The Wife He Broke, The Woman Who Rose

nds of men in the master suite. Andrew

ried armfuls of my clothes, my books, my perso

d smelled of mildew. It was a p

rge windows and the sun-drenc

f the stairs and watche

air so cold it burned your lungs. Andrew, left for dead by his o

the infection. I remembered brewing teas over a tiny fire, forcing the warm liquid

," he' d whispered, his voice r

ved his promises. I left the only home I' d ever kno

upstairs shatt

e floor at the top of the s

shrieked, pointing a

appened. He didn' t even look at her. His eyes were l

across my face. The force of it sent

he snarled. "You tri

he pain in my chest. I looked at him, at the m

drew," I said, my voi

. A short,

ut me. You have no money, no connections. You

digging into my skin, and dragg

n there until you

heard the heavy bolt sli