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INE
y reflection
efully putting on the elegant black silk
r second weddi
ng to change toni
gative tests, invasive doctor visits, and being told my chances of conceiving naturally were almost
he question tonight. But I still wanted the atmosphere to be perfectly romantic when I handed him the small gift box
rning in the front do
as h
the nightstand. The air instantly felt thick with manufactured romance. I heard the t
lip, a nervous habit
ter chill with him. He leaned his expensive Bauer hockey bag
t even l
ff his coat, tossi
f?" he asked, his voic
eart
There was no flicker of fire, none of the heat I had craved. Just
re feet silent on the plush carpet. I tried to wra
instinctive, almost
ull blast, but a chill crept up from the soles
exhaustion and annoyance. "Eveline, I'
g slightly. I forced a smile. "I ju
s crystal glass sat waiting, next to my flute of alcohol-free sparkling c
the setup, utterly unm
Like I had just reminded
The screen's cold blue light illuminated his indifferent profil
ose the bathroom door. I could hear his voice, lower now,
ht fra
course,
I handle thi
e like that
a lead weight into the
ith a sickening, casual intimacy t
miss m
needle, piercing my hear
ilk dress suddenly felt like a cla
d at the ridiculous woman looking back at me
away the lipstick, but
out, already changed into sweatpants,
e went straight to the closet an
you doing?" I aske
aid without turning around. "Got an early
ed for the last two months. We
ster bedroom without a backward glance. He even ha
latch was the sound
e cold floor. The tears I'd been holding
freezing silk a poor comfo
g enough for the tears to dry on m
the two untouched glasses on the nightstand-his crystal gl
of humiliation and h
e amber liquid swirled under the dim light, offering a tempting, numb oblivion. I lifted it to my lip
o
click, leaving the whiskey untouched. I
he closed doo
began to fo
king to. I had to know what
live like t
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