An Atonement of Love

partment smelled of

company, a kind soul who had offered it

way from Liam's

th colorful cushions, and photos o

ly made Ava feel more like an intruder in someone else's life

on the floor, her only posse

ing, constant reminder of the re

igh, feeling the slight, f

as r

ncer w

utterly al

zed on the fl

ication popped u

Dinner - 8 pm

ess laugh esc

da

heir ann

umsy, sweet evening at a cheap Italian r

e, always at a new, more extravagan

La Perle, the hardest rese

ast anniversary before b

otification until t

felt like it belonged to ano

rvous and fumbling, spi

looked at her, as if she wer

tablecloth, his palm warm and a little swea

as that

en her mother got sick, who had promi

cold, cruel stranger who l

so stark it mad

love and devotion as easily as h

ed by a lie she didn'

on the apartment door star

eaped into

i

ome to h

alized hi

oring the sharp protest from h

open, a sliver of desperate

sn't

cing men stood

nd expressions that wer

their way into the small apa

ne grunted, his eyes scan

ked, her voice trembl

arp, replaced the

ond man said, his gaze lingering on

ssage from Li

essa

the first man said,

stole from his company.

would have been laughable if the

is no money! My f

anged a look

we heard," the

red to do whatever it takes to get it back. He thinks a rem

essed herself against the wall,

n't just

alculated ac

sent th

to terro

ey," she pleaded, her

everything. My father i

oice

elf to say the word 'de

ust leave

sn't an option," the

use of the stress your family caused. An eye for an eye, you k

for a

the small room, chi

than just a mi

as ven

grief, was actively

bandoning her, h

o a desire for retribution so strong

, and in his place was a m