The Broken Ring

AB

gdo

gdo

d when the doorbell rang annoyi

ing my eyes before glancing

0 a

ould be ringin

or. Instead of opening it immediately, I peeke

e double lock in place, just in case

. Only the empty streets, swaying trees, and

Just as I was about to step outside, I felt somethin

noticed a small c

lla R

name, writte

tching me from afar. Instantly, I went inside. I s

I inspected the flowers but found nothing unusual, just l

arted with a si

d its petals are darker than the ni

elivery, or a coincidence. But then, the seco

time, it was different. There was a nam

ilence, as if it had always been meant

pe, though there was never anything insi

than I should have, feeling the softness of it

one. The one who never showed up on our anniversary d

year since he last spoke to me. He handed me a pen to s

ment. A contract bound by duty rather than love. He had

he kind of man

ind of man w

ould have celebrated the end of our marriage, fin

er him, I can't seem to

stared at them for a minute and a sud

Romano protection. There's no one left to stand by

slithered down my spine, send

mless gift, this flowe

didn't yet

treating to my room in an attempt to

yself away from the overwhelming silence of my apartment. But before

sed hand clampe

rt sto

nst my ribs, the sudden terror

, but the grip on me was unyield

ured against my ear, the sound cu

ugh yet fam

ath hi

o

uldn'

in? Where had

e dimly lit room, searching for a

e open window, the curtai

mach d

nt shudder through me. He ha

e? Had he stood in the darkness, waitin

ghtly, not enough to hurt but enou

arned, his voice a l

of fear cra

he didn't budge. He was too strong, and co

n my eyes, hot

were here

fr

thinking

nstinctively reach for the man who had sp

lked away without

thing... When I was in d

s to blur becau

tear slipped

e grip aroun

owly moved away. The pressure on my wa

eady to run away. But before I could take a step,

his wide, broad and

nd my back, holding me in place. But i

oticed his fa

shallow as I fel

this

as gentle, as if soothing

rt stu

this

this pr

pping free. My fingers trembled as they c

o know, or even have t

lready know

ispered through the rag