sen

he punched the cold tile once. Twice. Three times. Her knuckles a

she hissed. "So desp

ambitious, someone who dreamed of studying law, of helping peop

once like she was everythin

it w

o laughed off lipstick stains on his collar. The girl who showed up at his apartment with a

ands, but the tears wouldn't stop.

ly, stumbling as she reached for th

anded on t

l desecrated by

low, opened the fridge, and grabbe

rushed chi

red the contents onto the cake - slowly, method

er flakes fe

tupid. C

ne with being an understanding gir

nose on her sleeve, an

efore she cou

a

fr

tional type - more of a quiet strength.

overed over

answ

ad

" His voice was

is tone startl

ng the streaks of mascara from her

No matter what, stay there until w

a knot already forming i

ay there!" Her f

und. Her mother crying. A door slamm

oice - louder,

hat they owe, we'll

wasn't her

lled her t

a whisper as she pressed the phone

mething - inaudible - maybe to her mother. Then another cr

rked in the background. The feminine voice

s blood tu

on? Who are they?!

he whispered. "Sera, I tried. I thought I could keep them at bay a little longer, bu

grabbed the edge of th

d. "You went to

acy stopped giving her the discount- we needed the medicine, Sera. And then your tuition. The bills. The

s dissolved into a g

reamed. "What are t

ame on the li

a

ittle disappointmen

fr

oth, laced with power and ven

pa

the line. Miss 'boyf

locked.

scussion for us. Such loyalty. Such sacrifice. You gave up everything for your little boyfriend. Gav

idn't

wheeze, "H- h

. How about this, let's make a deal.

ed. Her voice

kind o

e third day, your parents didn't pay me back my money, I'll have your hand..." The man

early dropp

wh

. Your family has three days. If by the third day, my

ic

ne wen

le

rom her hand and cl

? To someone who saw her as...

r reflection in t

. Eyes swollen.

dies, girlfriend of a cheat, now

. "No," she whispered. "No, n

it

w