a's

a! E

ugh the house before t

heart racing, disoriented for a momen

here!" Mrs Chr

adn't really slept anyway. Their laughter

slippers and w

he kitchen, fully dressed, arms crossed

sy and Daniel drank too much last

her. "The mai

u will make it and you wil

intentional in her t

slowly. "

g vegetables, stirring spices into the broth. The smell rose wa

tairs. In my bed,

dy, Christine placed

t up. A

felt heavier than the last. I pause

bed

cked

ans

he door op

head rested on Daniel's chest, her fingers lazily trac

ightened aro

oked at

ting the sheet but not movin

look embarrassed. "

eave i

tray on the bedside ta

cry, I di

give them tha

r, the house

room and pulled out a box

etchb

des

dre

d with bold concepts and confident strokes. Corporat

labeled: Queen El

ern royalty in fabric form. Strong shoulders. C

had called

d had once fe

otice when they

ed when ther

s the

g out to get someth

I said a

le

ack to m

n..

MM

am tore through

ed dow

ear the doo

the shopping bags. They're for

ust left. She can bring

d closer. "Are y

st th

I could finish, my he

ed instantly a

re told in this hous

ry, I walk

boutiques' logos stared back at me. Dr

bags, I heard la

perched on her head though we were in

knowin

h the red dress," she said

ooked at me s

here and

the bags

former

el stood behind her, his arms wrapped around h

he bags do

me, no one ac

they could dis

t room, I closed

d to th

s forming acr

at my r

s this

tood silently while her life wa

to the bed, to

d over and pick

trembled

it st

aw sharp line

choed again, but this

ey had broken me b

awakened

zed suddenly

wn nu

art s

ed... the

el

oice spo

red his throat gently. "M

allo

. I'm

cture, the detailing, it was ahead of its time

around the phone. A life I had bu

ust be a mistake. I stopped working a long

ief silence on

replied politely. "Your t

echoed long afte

ketches. My once-brilliant lines now looked l

zed again, I

ed before

mmediately. "What

pped. "What

ecruiter. They said you rejected t

Stop sending my resume everywher

ocked. "This is a major fashion ho

"I want to focus on my marriage. I

as a lo

"the same husband who moved a

oat ti

compli

icated. You're sacrificing your life fo

hispered, though my vo

Has he stood up for you? Has he loo

like a stone drop

" I said weakly. "He w

essed. "When did you become the one

no a

re deep down...

n who loves you does not make you compete. He does

ned behin

eed time,

ked quietly. "For

filled t

o go," I

mm

ung

om fel

looked outside. The sky was

heard Daniel

t l

d to b

ainst my chest, tryi

e still

isunderstanding? A mistake

d harder, or I

fighting, or I be

nded him of who

e only one sti

e bed, staring a

ll fel

asn't sure if it

cha

ough the house once more, one qu

ing for my

e only one