Married to a Lie

ally filled our street, a happy smell

sterile, like the sil

we

found Mom and Dad in

bbery, but the cas

. The bakery doors were locked,

ng felt heavy, a

é, the man who swore

once, his

't do this. I

rdered, our bakery was dying

ater, I

draiser for his ci

, his arm aroun

family's old mone

ty pages

wash over me, then

open wound, and he

hat I was. Utterly

er, Mark's older bro

ned to my pa

k gentle questio

lines etched arou

ustice, about fin

ds like a drowning

church was packed, a

lilies was

back, with Veronica.

me, a solid, co

offered their clumsy co

isplay cases empty. Financia

ice low. "I know this is

and. His was

wear I'll protect you, and I won't rest

at him,

ria

he debts, the cru

sincere, offer

red. Maybe this was a w

the word barely au

hand, a small s

promised, wou

as. It jus