From Unwanted Ward To Unattainable Queen

ie

like a funeral procession for

t like a physical severance, a blade slicing through the tether that held me to this place. I told myself this wa

down at

ketch

had brought it with

of dust and sage. I ripped the first page out. The sound of the heavy paper tearing was sharp, visceral, sat

another.

ther. Hi

the pages flew out, disappearing into the dust, I felt lighter. It was a violent u

to the terminal, the book wa

case and walked t

I f

rc

Yet there he was, standing

s reflex. *Did he come to say goodb

he flash of

lo

g, laughing, and looked up at him with a teasing glint in her eyes. Marcus wasn't pushing her awa

a couple. A rea

d being shipped off

idened, but it didn't reach her

Marcus with her. "Safe travels, sweetie. Florence is goin

ping with subtext.

ed at

ok at me. He was

said, addressing the air somewhere past

es. He was erasing me befor

f my suitcase until my

Marcus," I

back to Chloe, who was whi

ity. I didn't look back. I forced mysel

d myself. *He is bl

ndreds of photos. Marcus at Christmas. Marcus t

Sele

t De

can icon

o i

ing but a topographic map below me. I had four years. Four years to become someone who didn