ber

na'

wn the corridor, each one echoing like a drumbeat of warning. A mom

eashed on him, probably yelling about the way he had treated me. I had tried to keep the truth f

icle that had drained me of whatever strength I had left. A sigh rolled th

le in P

carelessly shoved over my hair that morning, hid the soft waves that usually fell in long cascades. My grey eyes, normally clear and bright, looked swollen and red-r

ome, desperate for answers, desperate for him. I had left in tears, crushed by the only words he had bothered to give me

My marriage to Simon Valero was no haven, no safe place of warmth. It was a frozen

he chill of his indifference seeped too deeply into me, freezing my soul

always

had been the brightest contrast to my own parents' apathy, and I had clung to it. She was the reason I married Simo

ve me nothing. She had enticed me with her kindness, her promises that one day Simon wou

kable-cracked from inside Simon's study. I jolted upright, the f

to placate Alicia, calm her down before things escalated? Or should I use this

ay from pushing it open. But then his voice cut through th

g back in two days, and the moment she'

had punched me. I clutched the handle,

hear," he added, unflinching, "but we d

ruth that had just branded itself into me. My heart felt like it had split clean in

ted her. To think he would give another chance to the wo

in rivulets I couldn't stop as

r relationship had been-the fights, the shouting, the chaos that had ended in ruin

ng clothes into my bag with shaking hands. Why her? Why not

t looked like another woman altogether. I was beaming in those photographs. He was not. He l

sound. Crying silently had been an art I had perfected in childhood. Loveless parents had taught me ear

n who was no different. Simon's love wa

turned toward Alicia. Toward the woman who had pulled me into this life, who had promised me he

d never have forced me into Simon's life.

r son's broken heart by shoving me into the frozen rem

always, crying changed nothing. All it left me

whispered aloud, as if sayin

e shook as I requested the pape

vish gifts Alicia had given me, leaving behind everything bought with th

. For a moment, I hesitated, relishing the icy smoothness of the diamond. But then I pul

s. Call me foolish, call me pathetic, but part of me still loved him, even know

still furnished, but hollow to me now. I cried until sleep dragged me und

mbling hands I signed my name. A car engine growled outside, gravel crun

d he wear the cold mask from our wedding day? The same detached expression

told myself. If I saw him

eft a short note pinned to them, wishing him

carded wedding ring. My suitcase waited at the door. I reach

en before I could move

e, I saw him not cold, not distan