From Victim to Victor

letely that to my old circle, I had simply ceased to exist. I moved to

e unhinged woman pining for a ghost. It didn't matter. Their opinions were ghosts themselves, echoes f

the "Little Sprouts" daycare center just as a line of parents was forming. The front door burst open and a

is face lit up with p

y face in his hair. He smelled of crayons and pl

ick figures under a giant, smiling sun. One was big, one was m

unced proudly. "Da

ture I've ever seen," I said

ace. He leaned down and kissed the top of Leo's he

said, thinking of Jess

houlder with an ease that always made me feel sa

ent and the life I'd left behind was staggering. It wasn't a life of corporate success or high-society parties. I

uch, watching Liam wash the dishes. My mind drifted

knees on the same sidewalks, and shared all our secrets. He was my first love, my only love. I had

ed to our university

up. She said she was just looking for a study partner, someone to challen

elieved our history, our bond, was unbreakable.

the web she was spinning unti