the tone. It was the same gentle, reassuring tone he used with me when we first met, the one that made me believe every word he said. Now, he was using

his face was a blank mas

talk," he said,

my own voice surprisingly steady. "She can't wait fo

nd of exasperation. "You're overr

ht call from a woman with a heart emoji next to her name?

it was insulting. "Things got a little... out of han

as more painful than

s over with a few lazy lies. A surge of energy shot through me. I turned without another

ing?" he demanded

the door open. The cool

d drove. I didn't

n myself and that house, that lie. I ended up

e air. It was a world away from my pristine, silent home. I ordered a black coffe

can work this out

took a picture of the greasy diner menu and sent it to him with no caption. A small, petty

ting for me in the living room, sitting in his favorite armchair.

system?" he asked, his tone la

ng in the doorway. "

into a hug. "Ava, I'm sorry," he whispered, his breath smelling of whiskey and li

arsed. I was a part he was playing, the wronged wife who would eventually forgive him because that's what wives did. I could

you," I said, pul

e. But we have a life, Ava. A son. Are you goin

loe. The screen lit up the dark room. He had forgotten to silence it. It was the same pattern, the same

d, my voice barely a whisper. The fight went ou

a warning in his to

turning away from him. "I need to think." I needed to be