Five Years of His Lies

ectacle of false glamour. On stage, Heaven Russell

support of Franklyn Townsend," she simpered, her e

mmunity arts center, meticulously rendered, was splashed ac

fingers laced through mine, a possessive grip. H

his eyes fixed on Heaven. "Such a natural.

eyes burned, but I refused to blink. I wouldn'

ce. Then, a voice from the back of the room. "Is

ed across the screens. Franklyn and Heaven. Kissing. In

ing. Her face went pale. The room erupted in

shielding her from the flashing lights, his body a fortress. The protective i

ping the room, then landing on me. My he

nating through the speakers, "are a fabri

e. I knew wha

is gaze pinning me to my seat

one, swung to me. Blinding. Disorienting.

riage. He had saved my family from fin

s growl meant only for my ears. "Your fami

silent scream trapped in

th false sympathy, "has been suffering from severe grief over

Heaven. "She fell prey to a driver, a man who took advantage of her

whispers turned into a roar. The shame

ry eye in the room was on me. I cleared

yet it filled the room. "I... I admit it. I w

y dignity, my reputation, sh

forcing the words out, each one a shard o

ontrollable, streamed down my face. Each sob, each choked gasp, was broadcast to