The Forgotten Past, The Found Self

anyone. There was no point. As I made my way towards the exit, trying to remain unnoticed, I passe

ivia tonight?" Scarlett's voice was fille

o understand her place. The bracelet was always meant

moment, a phantom pain from a heart that was no longer mine. It was just a r

cut through the air. She had come out of the study and seen

ind her, his face

lly. She looked down at her wrist, then up at me with wid

it was bare. "Olivia, did you take it? I kn

by guests turned to look, their expression

r bracelet, Scarle

y child! You couldn't stand to see Scarlett happy!" Without warning, she slapped me hard across the fac

ayes shrieked. "I be

ing and pulling at my dress. It was a complete violation. I stood frozen, unable to r

olding it up for everyone

let. I hadn't touched it. I hadn't even gone near her. She must have slipped it into my pock

dangerous, dripping with disgust. He walked

ief," he said, his words like stones. "You are not my wife. You are nothin

stripping me of the last shred of dignity I had. He wanted to b

lingering ghost of the old Olivia vanished into thin air. All the pain, all the lo

It was a smile of pure, unadulterated release. It was the smi

e, confused by my reaction. They had expected t

e I had supposedly loved more than life itself. And I felt

ryone to hear. "You're right. I don't deserve this." I let out a small, genui

t in the eye and del

olds, don't lov