ng the Are

avies's office. The room was cluttered with books and half

t... that's five years of total isolation. No conta

serious. He knew I had a girlfriend, Chloe, and that we had bee

o, until

firmer than I felt. I neede

most full. I had been saving every spare dollar from my part-time jobs and scholarships, putti

fore I hear

hat wasn'

ur ago, standing in the doorway of the apartm

ful face a mask of confusion. "Wh

ays. He clapped me on the shoulder, a wide grin on his face. "E

f panic crossed her face before she smoothed it over

, my voice fla

ood days, I finally got it." He opened it to show a ridiculously expensive-looking

said, her voice soft and full of

churned. The cheap promise ring I was saving for felt like a joke. The

said, turning aw

I pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over her contact, then I went to our shared photo

and her friends at a fancy rooftop bar. I zoomed in. On the table, next to a bott

iggy

sing it as

arrying a bouquet of cheap daisies, the only flowers I could afford. I got to her do

ttle charity case who you really are?" one of

The look on Liam's face every time he sees me

t... commoner? He wears the

s so devoted. He's saving up for a ring in that ridiculous little pig. Can you bel

, each one cutting d

ent girlfriend and comes crawling back, I'll drop Ethan so fast he won't know what

erupted in

of nausea so intense I had to lean against the wall. A cold sweat broke out on my for

prop in her d

bank, my stupid, hopeful piggy bank, covered in ash. I felt a

ind a blank, howling void. By morning, the

went to see Pr

tion. No friends. N

e a punishment and