A Shattered Anniversary

ood on the plates was cold and congealed, and the wine glasses stood untouched. Ava sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, but she couldn' t stop shivering. She hadn' t slept. Ho

y enough, not exciting enough, not patient enough. She had twisted herself into knots trying to be the perfect wife, the woman she thought Mark wanted. What a fool she' d

taken last summer. The hypocrisy was nauseating. She let it ring until it went to voicemail, then a text popped up. "Ava, honey, are you okay? Mark

e narrative. Ava the irrational, hysterical wife. Chloe the supportive, worried friend. Ava' s fingers moved over

simple sentence: "Can y

t happened?" she said, her eyes sweeping over the disastrous dining room. She rushed to Ava' s side, pulling her into a hug. The

e tears to come. "He said I was being crazy. He

im of?" Chloe asked, h

into her best friend' s eyes. "I

ock she must have felt. Then she let out a small, horrified gasp. "Ava! How could you

. I don' t know. I overheard him on the phone, and I just jumped to the worst possible c

he' d retreated back into self-doubt. "Oh, honey, no, you' re not losing your mind," Chloe said, rubbing her back soothingly. "You' re just unde

of manipulation, sent a jolt of pure rage through Ava. But she kept her

in her voice. "He' s just so worried about you. He loves y

him. I' ve pushed him away with my paranoia." She started pacing, wring

g on her lips. "That' s a good idea. Give him some

I am. Can you... can you call him for me? I don' t think he' ll pick up if

ood to pass up. "Of course, honey. Anything for you." She pulled out her

second ring. "Chloe

f gentle authority. "She' s a wreck, Mark. She feels terrib

e line. "I just... I can' t deal with

wants to apologize. She just needs

expertly manipulate the man they were both

now..." Mar

" Chloe said.

idence. Do it for me. The words hung in the

s before. "Yes, Mark. Please come home. So you and Chloe can tell me the truth toget

went white. The mask of concern evaporated, replaced by pure, unadu

her voice low and venomous.

e truth is," Chloe spat, her face contorted with rage, "he can' t stand to touch you. He hasn' t wanted you for years. He com

s a declaration of war, and Ava felt the ground crumble beneath her feet all over again. The