Hollow

" I whispered, my voi

ling amidst the wreckage of my most precious memory. A

urpose, Estella," he s

rley. Her eyes, for a split second, held a triumphant

last thread of my

n could process the action. The crack of my palm a

e side, a red mark blo

to shield her. He grabbed my shoulders, his

ur wedding day. I stumbled, my ankle twisting, and fell heavily, my el

y cried, her voice dripping with f

d expression. For a moment, I saw the old Ja

Let me clean her cut," she said s

to scramble away from h

ly trying to help," she whimpered, t

"Hold her," he commanded the two housem

hem stammered,

epeated, his voice leav

and fear, pinned my arms. I struggled, but I

sper said, his voice cold. "Kimberley

he knelt down, her face close to mine, her sweet perfume making me gag. "This might s

use the c

ted the entire bottle over the

d, a thousand white-hot needles sinking into my flesh all at once. A scream tore fro

sper, my eyes begging him for help, for a

tching. His face was a

w clench. He

hoked out, her voice trembling. "It h

rley," he said, his voice thick with alarm. He scoop

the room without a single backward glance at me, the wom

in a heap. The sharp, sterile smell of alcohol filled my lungs, a scent I

er's destroyed photograph. He had gotten that scar protecting me.

n my throat, a hyste

, I had loved a weak man who le

gers still bleeding. "I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered to the smil

command performance; my attendance was not optional. Jasper insisted

l stares. I was yesterday's news, the jilted bride. Kimberley, clinging to Ja

wl, laughing at her vapid jokes. I was left to stand alone in a corner, an awkw

l, well, Estella," she sneered, looking me up and down. "You're looking a little... d

ine glass, my

is voice sharp. But then he immediately turned back to Kimberl

gesture, immediately negated by

shoulder. Then, as she turned to walk towards the grand

pened in s

tly into it. Hundreds of crystal flutes, filled with golden

me, but towards Kimberley, wrapping his body ar

g directly in the

the glass. Shards rained down on me, slicing at my bare arms and shoulders. A heavy crystal flute struck

ation. Jasper, having ensured Kimberley was perfectly unharmed, finally turned to look

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