The Pianist's Reckoning

isoner in her own idyllic retreat. The silence was deafening, broken only by her own rag

rs started arriving. E

t hammering against her ribs. She didn' t und

ished and handsome. Lila was beside him, clin

s, society figures, people Ava knew,

knock on

ever seen before stood there,

says you' re

itting uniform, like something an ol

rified. "What is thi

ndler' s orders. And this..." The woman held up

to wear this as

his couldn' t be happening. Thi

n' s face wa

inutes later, Mark appeared in the doorw

it on,

is is insane.

hing you sorely lack. Lila thought it was

Of c

umiliate me," Ava whispe

ht this on

her flesh. The Mark who had cherished her, protected her, was gone. I

he uniform. It was c

ened it around her neck.

her dow

hampagne flutes in hand, laughter echoing

ell over

sual. "This is Ava. She' ll be... assisting us this week

Lila watched from Mark' s side, her eyes gleamin

g with shame, the bell

us stares and whispered comments. Lila would occasionally drift by,

t was ye

veranda overlooking the lake. The guests were

from his pocket. He clip

e tied to a stur

esh air, Ava. And cont

ere. Leashed.

laughed. Others looked away, their discomfort a small, cold comfort that did nothing to lessen her agony. Lila w

t of despair remained. She sank to the wooden planks of the veranda,

ed, humiliated, paraded bef

. Orchestrated by Lila, executed by the

d; it had been systematically,