LOVE IN DUNGEON

laid eyes on the Dungeon,

e air and lobster traps lined the docks like prayer beads. Officially, it was Fisherman's Corner, but no one who

ore forever. When Tessa told him she was pregnant, he threw himself into the dream-bought a house, pa

me the

't the

shed a tear wh

most of his money-and left him with a

he one who never left their hometown. Ben offered him a cot in his fish

nd that was fine. The cold didn't lie to him. Neither

her Tesla rattled over yet another pothole,

was headed-only that she c

by dusk and distance. Her charger had stopped working somewhere n

things into the trunk and fled. No desti

it became too much. Too loud. Too ambitious. Too hers. They w

s partner in disguise. The names blurred n

enough.

a stop in front of a sun-bleached sign that read Fish

rf

it would

ked around. A worn-down gas station slouched in the distance. A

and woodsmoke. The ocean

liest place s

time in months,

lloused and raw from hauling nets all m

shiny for

tepped out, he r

use. That city

shopping spree," he

ave a low whistle.

n three days," Ja

"Ten bucks s

nted but ke

ne. She just stood still, like someone used to l

w that

d to w

ng a fake name. Old habit. She

d. The mini fridge wheezed like it had asthma. But when she open

ybe for the fir

ts. No mirrors telling her sh

still

back, and stared at the ceil

she was comfortable-but bec

pped bitter coffee from a chip

tter. Just an

ing in him

this time mig