reams of tears pou

eturn to that house-not after the slap, not after the betr

uld brighten up any dark room with her painting but Nathan k

into believing that he loved me so much that he d

end all the time not knowing she's the real

rs of bei

he was just busy, of ignoring the ache that grew louder each night I reached for

night shattered e

swallow me whole. Lights blurred. Fac

buzzed in

m leaving the house for yo

ust a nice way of saying he was o

d as something inside me cracked open-not just sadness, but something

n't want to sit in silence with my thoughts and loneliness echoi

d to fe

g, I finally made my way back to our apartme

s – my clothes disheveled, my face streaked with tears. I changed into a club dress

the wet pavement as I slid into the backseat, I gave the driver the address of

ody seemed to know exactly where it was going –

-

in a blur of color and rhythm. I sank into the crowd, lett

n another. The burn w

hen I no

uriosity than hunger. When he walked over, I almost told him to

son's eyes, I felt

e by now, but he simply watched me, his

y voice barely above a whisper, try

on his lips. "That's fair," he said, his voice l

t was the kindness in his voice or the way he listened with

s. "My husband cheated," I said finally, the words tumbling out in a rush. "With my best friend.

me feel both angry on my behalf and grateful for his empathy. "You didn't de

in my throat. "I don't even know why I

replied, his voice full of convicti

my pain; it was about being heard, being seen. And his calm, g

"So you... Are yo

lie-I'm here for you." He

"I figured. You se

ally in the city to f

repeated,

the mistress's son so it got a little bit complicated. Bu

inked, then smiled. "So how will

a big empire that belongs to his wife's father so I fou

th dance our sorr

y fingers a

ell," he replied in

t then-le

t desperate. Just... charged. Like we were two lonely souls, o

ay into the crowd. Lights pulsed overhe

iling over my golden-brown curl

s face, and I caught the

my thigh revealed smooth, fair toned skin that made hi

close and murmured,

read across my

lled me close and placed his hand

n when your hands are already on

pain. Are you sure about all this?" He a

gently and leaned h

s. Oh God, I was already soa

ad touched me in three years. Either way, I couldn't stop myself. I

hips to the beat. His hand rested on my

my chest. I wasn't wearing a bra, and I kne

t here, damsel," he whispered,

to remain faithful to my husband since I haven't signed the divo

y from him so he slowly rubbed my t

dn't hold ba

made me ache. I wanted him. Badly.

s, then moved to his neck and