The Bride Who Vanished

I was once a child who played in the gardens, not a ghost who served drink

hold court. He was laughing with his old fraternit

them slurred, raising his glass. "The 'Ava Project.' I bet you

"You owe me, man. The charity case

here's to the end of the project! To Liam an

all c

A ten-year-long joke. My entire life,

t a workshop years ago. Your voice is unique, Ava. If you ever want to write real stories, my door is always ope

hought away. I

and approached Liam. His s

m," I said, my voice

my mother's only heirloom, a plain gold loc

t, then at me, his eye

Ava? You think this cheap

om my hand, turned, an

ove," he said loudly,

triumphant, venomous smirk, her fingers tracing the gold that had once rested

me. I turned and walked away, leaving my childhood, my love