The Price of a Toxic Love

r dark hair across her face. Donald extended his hand to her with careful possession while she stood next to him. Watching sun

s a fairytale in my eyes before this." The concept of true emotional connec

color of his eyes showed the d

stomach as she returned hi

they discovered happiness in small everyday joys. They indulged in confusing late-night ice cream excursions while sharing secret kisses during rainy days while whispering whispe

n between the surface beauty. S

ons across Dora's hand. With a barely audible tone Donald spoke these w

ad scarred her beyond what most people could see. The secur

ople. From feelings. Simply, I never wanted

grip tightened on h

ply. "Now, I do

ssed it against her forehead. "You do

ses were unce

ver simply sunshine and laughter. The more they fell, the

d always been. Donald was everything she wanted, but with Don

e evening she voiced the fear gnawing her as they wa

er, Donald stopped wal

ertainty. "I've seen love fa

face. I can't say for sure that we never will have challenges,

r heart hurt for t

it, but a strange feeling from t

of passion, raw and unfiltered. It had never b

but subconsciously she had known she was on the losing side. His eyes looked so

ally breathed o

eyes with triumph. "You won'

a knew no better: this was just the start o

. Everyone had found their way here to wait in a corner beneath a blackboard covered with notes, soft music in the bac

ly, "you look beautiful"

t look too bad yourself,' she said to h

of music, his dream for songs in the future who will live if he lives. In turn, he listened intently as

u're unlike any one I've ever met.' "I want to

his moment was real, but Dora knew. She was safe

n't come from, she met his family. Donald's background was of a privilege; the weight of his family name carried to the

y're going to love you. They will, otherwise,

t was the kind of silence that was heavy with unsaid words and the drive to his family's estate was quiet. Starin

een a rainy night. His question had been directed at

your fam

she'd hesitated. "I don

but Donald hadn't said anything,

ely whispering. "He didn't spend much time with my d

n't come from, she met his family. Donald's background was of a privilege; the weight of his family name carried to the

"They're going to love you. If not, I'll

t was the kind of silence that was heavy with unsaid words and the drive to his family's estate was quiet. Starin

as small and safe. His question had been directed at

your fam

est tightening. "I don'

but Donald hadn't said anything,

ely whispering. "He didn't spend much time with my d

not forget the feeling that Clara was watching her, considering her. Finally, it wasn't until af

blooming flowers, saying to Luk

at her, unsure

.. particular." ...or he'd end up with

n every effort to not show anything was w

king a rose from a bush. "Drive

I'm

n her eyes when she s

of which I grew up but I have worked for everything and I have not done so without acknowle

. Because if you hurt him, then I'll have to answer to y

nd when the evening was over, Dora was desperate

as they drove home. "See?

a had said. She couldn't put the feeling to rest tha

small private institution for the training of the children of the wealthy. Donald had persuaded

ts and new faces. Dora could feel Clara, profe

end of the week. Clara walked in to the

Clara asked, he

and set d

s from her as Clara sat. "I have to kno

ught off guard.

.. He is integral to this family. And I have

ched for her. On hearing that, she simply replied, 'I l

er and nodded. "Good. And you'l

r. At the time, Dora knew that Clara's protectiveness

rove herself. There was tension between them, but she and

the school and on her way out,

hug, and said, "Hey.

on Clara's words

is brow furrowing

hesitated in Dora. "Not

to study, then nodded.

hat something was approaching, som

e was

a man she hadn't seen in years and her father. When she

they hit her like

ee you. It's

she stared at the letter, her vision blurr

oughts by Donald's hand on he

t to speak, she han

ed and he read it. "D

ngs were going to hurt her first, a

ing her, she couldn't unwind the feeling th

e was

her father cam

years? But how will this expose affect Donald and