When Love Turned to Ash

y of my new room, dressed in a tailored tu

ight," he announced. "We need to lea

lways made me feel like I was playing the part of Mark Davis's fiancée, not being Sarah Miller. My first instinct was to refuse, to tel

rk. I'll

his is an important night. A l

k with the scent of expensive perfume and the low hum of powerful people making deals. Mark was in his element, gliding

, and I had believed him. He' d listened when I talked about my art, telling me he would build me the most amazing studio one day. Now, his hand on my back felt less like an embrace and more

miss. She was laughing at something one of Mark' s business partners said, then she turned a

ere." She completely ignored my presence. This was Jessica Thorne, a junior executive

le widening. "Good to see you

re. "Of course. The artist. Mark talks about your... hobby... all

bout a charity initiative she was leading for OmniTech. She spoke eloquently, but

r voice dripping with false sincerity. "People like Sarah, who make it possible for people like Mark to change

woman who lived only for Mark. It was designed to humiliate me, to put me in my place. The old Sarah would have shrunk in her seat, h

pplause for Jessica died down, I stood up. Mark looked at me, startled, a warning in his eyes.

ady in the silent room. I turned to face a stunned Jessica. "J

hang in the air. Then I sm

at, I am tr

or all the times I didn't speak up, for all the moments I let Mark and

nd. I turned and walked, not back to my table, but straight t

oice was a harsh whisper behind me, fu

nd stepped out into the cool night air, leaving him and his perfectly curated worl