hot and furious, but they

, of a resolve hardenin

r friends, he could even try to take

ated, my voice low and steady

They are not yours to give away, Michael

o watched with a mixture of feigned inn

our family doesn't have other ass

alues. As if Mom's legacy, her very essence infused into that hous

d up the torn pieces

one Mom and I used to sit by on chilly evenings, an

t. They would

I said, my back still to him. "We always go to the cemetery

s voice lacked conviction. I

for something far more importan

t, I bega

e, room by room, meticu

he'd ever given me, every shared souve

in. The concert tickets from our first date. T

it, t

ved on to

ks he'd given me, inscribed with loving messages. The ridi

Each item felt

e fireplace – the l

x Ethan gave me, a framed photo of Mic

as methodical, al

ife, from my space, just as

felt lighter, empti

rmchair, clutching a small, faded phot

ace. I was alone, truly alone now, but I wa

me and went a

l of my birthday. Flowers, a sp

othing. Not a call, no

ade sure I knew he hadn't

Ethan beaming, Chloe radiant in a new dress, a glittering diamond neckla

birthday surprise ever

rthday. It was a deli

k, not for revenge, but for a future where their

re I could b