le
hand. Petition for Divorce, the words scream at me in bold letters
crossed over his chest like a stranger. Not the
r," he sa
ad. They sting worse than the slap
forced. "I can't believe this. Rowan, what is thi
oks like," he snaps
? I'm your
reading your legs for someone else," he says,
slides open. Photos
shake as I pick one up-and my breath catches. It'
ail. "These are fake, Rowan. This can't be real. Look!" I hold one up, p
Over and over. But now? It's undeniable. You're just
o my knees. My hand reaches out for h
now me. You know I'd
ay like I burned hi
u were after a meal ticket, and I
ped through my tears. "You promised I was different. You said you belie
d. His eyes flicker. Then, jus
pen palm. "You fooled me once. That's
stripper. N
debts, and put my brother through school. I dance every night for str
ome nights, I get groped or spat
ght at the end of
d pulls me out. I thought he saved me. I th
t. Every chance he gets, he throws it in my face
ean. I smile. I love him. W
with my heart craw
ice. "I give up everything for you. My dreams, my
shut the fuck up. I'm not your reha
ds slam
ve nothing left. My mum's hospital bills are still piling up. You're the only
eg violently aw
me with your filthy
tare at my tre
n't find them filthy when you
You were supposed to give me a child. But no, you can't even do
rt sha
es. "A woman like you doesn
, but I can't. T
the floor to steady mysel
sper, with a shaky breath
sn't f
he man I thoug
gnant for you?" I whisper. I al
would have raised him," he says coldly. Then,
e walks away, my mo
lur my
awl with my knees toward
of me In bed With a ma
whisper, tears stre
. My fingers tremble as I flip it o
to
ver sign
sure I had no voice, no c
the paper, my ha
try to hold it in, but it bursts out-
-
hold on to what
tears streaming down my face. B
o my feet and pu
s just abo
ry chance she gets, controls my access to money, and threatens to cut off my mot
mile tells me everything.
the voice you could feel an edge to it. "You'll wear your best and s
ike I'm nothing but
adds with a sigh, casually tracing her fingers over the pearls
into my palms. So even the timing
ght voice. "Because if you don't, I'll make one
eath, but my l
want to scream. But I can't, not with my mothe
o one crosses her and
e minutes," I whisper
smirks and walks off
room, shutting the d
o I can smile, pose, and play
bones-this isn't jus
g else i