No Love, Only Ash

d myself a glass of water. "She's always been this way. Proud. She was the top of her class in art

her past tragedies gave her a per

own, she' s like a little girl w

as his words, his complete disregard for my feelings. I leaned agai

so well. "Ava? Are you okay? You look pale. Did you

here the doctor confirmed I was perfectly healthy

. "It was nothi

ms around me. "You work too hard. Yo

ought of me having a life, or even a problem, that didn't revolve around him. His love wasn't a partnership; it was ownership. He saw m

alth? They were secondary.

ce flat. I pushed his hands away

understand a new command. My compliance was the fo

ked, a hint of irritation in h

mile. "Am I? I thought you

where I could breathe air that wasn't thi

ing from t

was soup. A very specif