The Woman They Thought Was Dead

alked through the glass doors and the cool, perfumed air

black coffee. As I sat there, the memories of my first life played b

naive, so ha

The driver, a stranger, took

vate security guard I didn't

clothes and dusty b

I hel

I' d said. "I'm

smi

party. I don't know who you ar

. V

friend from college. The woman

ay. The house, my house, was alive with music and laughter. On the la

Ashley's

e husband, in his crisp Navy dress whites. Ashley, glitter

I had wh

e smiles on the

k said, his

st, a perfect mask o

rk, darling, do you know th

r guests

," I said, my

rward, his eyes

ue. She's had some... issues. S

ance, married to the daughter of a four-star General. That was his ticket to t

y from prying eyes. He h

s, Evie. C

it. I tr

the floor rushing up to meet me,

boat. The

t. My daughter, Chloe, was told I had a psychotic break and drowned myself. The tra

wly, methodically, swindled them out of their entire fortune. They died penniless and bro

in my cup

shaking, but

so pure and cold it