The Monster I Once Loved

, the humiliation clingi

t touch t

n't say

, Tori's saccharine "Oh, are you l

abbed antiseptic on the raw skin of

bathroom mirror was a

itar case in the corne

, had bought it for her

eyes shining. "The ones you hum w

it since he'd rem

, like their love,

case from the back of

e. Gifts from Alex, ex

gs, the worn jeans, the fade

nder of a life that

ple, and happiness was a

house do

tie loosened, his ex

u think you

rsh, cutting thr

ve cologne and something un

rt her. Now, it

ase, the pile of

sly making a sc

, his fingers digg

't you just be sensible about this?

ort

wisted in

temporary amusement?

led her

aid n

rn sketchbook, placing it

nfuriate him more than

Maya, ta

the click of the latche

was flushe

u want to su

med out, slamming

to tremble with the

long moment, her own

the penthouse kitchen, weari

e, moving about as i

financial newspaper, looking compl

lance at Maya wh

ed bright

y over. The traffic from my place can

light, almo

erthink i

herself a gl

was

up, a slight frown c

harity auction tonight

n't a

d knot tighten

eyes sp

re your mother's auctions, Alex

her arm th

g soon if we want t

ed to Maya, h

, won't you, May

her strings pulled by for

sea of glittering jew

rm, moved through the cr

d necklace for Tori, then a

a possessive smile at Tori, a p

behind them

for Maya to hear, "She's lovely

hispered, "Who's the ot

, loud enough for Maya to overhear, "Emeralds suit you, darling. U

elty was like

g on her wrist, and gave Maya a l

d despair settl

op. A tempor

she even

etting them d

or was in her accoun

she

n item was broug

e silver

lo

ht for her from the p

is medical bills when he was first injured, before his

eath h

olish hope flic

undred dollars," the

called out, her voice

her, a flicker of surprise,

er paddle. "F

ya said, her gaze

countered, a smirk

anor's money she'd mentally allocated for

sand." Her vo

between them. "Fifteen

ised hi

y tho

devoid of emotion. H

med. "Fifty thousa

the locket, and without a glance at M

mething for

ed, taking

, it's...

hand brushed agai

lipped from

polished ma