Between Ruin And Revenge: Her Regret

Brigg

brought the smell of damp wool and cold rain inside with me. The ap

st long, pale shadows across the living room floor. My eyes adju

sat there. She had left them at my pl

I opened the cabinet under the sink and pulled out a roll of heav

of dollars, and shoved it into the plastic. I grabbed the next one and did the same. The sharp metal zipper of the third bag

bag tight and dragged

n's custom La Mer face creams and expensive French perfumes. I held the second trash bag

breaking glass echoed against the bathroom tiles. The overwhelming scent of jasmine and vanilla filled the small space.

d bag and left i

ightstand and reached all the way to the back. My fingers br

t anniversary. She was smiling, looking at me

rfect smile for ex

ked. I ripped the wooden backing off, pulled the photograph out, and tore it straight down the middle.

l environme

down the stairs. I threw them into the large public dumpster on the street corner

tunnels blur past until the first gray light of dawn began to bleed into the morning sky. I sat on a cold station bench, waiting for the city to wake up and the government buildings t

window. "I need a legal n

ack of papers under the glass slot. "Standard procedure. Are y

s. My voice was flat. "I experienced severe psycholo

slightly. She nodded and pointed to the des

the box labeled Current Legal Name. I pressed the pen down hard,

d New Name. I did not hesitate. I wrote do

nipulation, carefully worded to justify a sealed record. I had spent the last three months secretly drafting it, spending my late nights in the back of the public library, pouring over legal texts and documenting every cruel t

d thud. "The court hearing and public notice waiver will take a f

rstand,

folded it carefully into a small square, and tucked it i

alked out of t

r of an engine cut through the street noise. A bright red Porsche 911 s

in the driver's seat, wearing dark sunglasses. H

lly pulling back his sleeve to reveal the Patek Philippe

I just stared at Jaquez with eyes so empty they looked like they belonged to a corpse. I looke

lasses down the bridge of his nose. "What are you doing at the courthouse, Brig

shifted my gaze away from Jaquez, stepped around the front b

rder than a punch. His face flushed

ow. "Arleen rented out the Hilton banquet hall for my birthd

are. I did not break my stride. The rhythm of my foot

phone from my pocket. I opened my contacts, found Arl

domestic flights. My thumb hovered over the screen,

yment details.

shed green. Bo

ching the white vapor disappear into the cold New Yor