FIVE - L

month since th

le kept me locked in his mansion like I was some rare artifact he didn't know how to use, only how to show off. I was

ut I felt nothin

the wedding, or the vows I

hotog

stra

y body before my h

mi

hat storm of a night when I gave him all of me and he left without a w

. I couldn'

s hands had traced every inch of my body like I was something sacred. The w

seal our marri

loose, thinking he could crawl into my bed and

scre

broken in. I cried, kicked, cursed at the sight of his nake

er tried t

called his name because they were paid to. I heard them at night sometimes, jus

. I thought

grip my hand in public for photos, I flinched. All

that night wa

as m

e

rget

was my

time the elevator dinged, I hoped foolishly that he'd

he d

nausea ca

dy, until it curled around

bathroom. Nothing came out, just dry heaves. This had been happening for da

earlier made me dizzy. Something was wrong. Deep down, I knew what it was.

dn't say i

t even co

a driver. I couldn't exactly stroll into a pharmacy and buy a pregnancy test with a smile. And asking one of th

r touched me. Not o

. there would be no

kept

ed it wa

delaye

ood poi

ing but what I

t three days ago custom-fitted, straight from the boutique. That meant only one thing: an event. Another party. Another e

crawl into b

ophy. And tonight, I had t

ation, and lining my eyes with a soft gold shimmer. I stared at my reflection

blur of champagne lights and luxury cars. Photographers gathered outside

om dripped

lated

l chan

ng slow jazz near t

very corner. Men in tux

t for joy. B

ke our rounds, stopping for handshakes, pictures, shallow

it hi

spin

en, chok

robbed. My vi

crashed over me l

The perfum

er's arm. "I...

everythin

appeared bene

urred int

turned t

rd was someone shout

, si