i

rifted through the ga

k and stale in the darkness, tossi

sharp metallic click of his li

was low, rough with exhaustion. "Lea

with defensive justification. "She listens to me. She

ke. "Gia? Gia looks at me like she's wai

said pragmatically. "You ma

ed it in. "You think I'm still here for any other reason? I jus

j

e room, I felt the last shred of patie

the kitchen smelle

r, humming a tune, acting

rning to me with a bright smile.

a large, pristi

me? To make up

gue. I unzi

ustom-made by the best atelier in Italy.

e fabric was heavy, cool against my skin. I

ke a bride. I lo

p stopped halfway to his

thed, his eyes raki

hone

the moment. He looked at

already moving, grabbing

g my wedding dress.

rgency at the docks with the

out t

t kiss m

silence, the heavy silk pooli

opened Instagram, and went

d one minute ago. T

will the pain fin

the docks. He was

ait

later, ano

beach, the shot shaky bef

and C

he was wrapped i

ssing her

ried his voi

ing. Forget everyone else. Yo

al love gives up eve

calm sett

en drawer and took ou

of the voluminous

n

g. The sharp, clean tea

the silk bodice. I hacked at the skirt until the

of white silk, standing in t

. A text from a

ened

mess of sheets. His face buried in her neck, eyes

anothe

need him. I make

d at th

he jealousy. T

hing. Only a w

d one

p h

locked t

ing. I stepped in and scrubbed my skin until it was red and raw, try

d wrapped myself in a tow

s. It was a woman about to walk into