He Said No, She Found Love

. This house, this life-it wasn' t mine. It was a stage for Harrison' s life, and I was just an extra who had overstayed her welcome. I was

arations. I scanned my parents' photos and important documents onto a secure hard drive. I drafted a resignation letter for my internship at Harrison' s firm. I packed a single, small suitcase with only

I was to be home by 10 p.m., no exceptions. He used to say it was for my

en remember what the movie was about. I just needed to be somewhere else. I checked my phone. No calls. No tex

hadn' t even noticed I was gone. The thought should have hu

ight. I expected the house to be dark and quie

foyer. But he wasn't alone. Charlotte was sitting o

ace was a mas

?" he demanded, his

a movie," I

tempt. "You disappear for hours, without a word, on a night wh

e a watery, tremulous smile. The per

en you didn' t come home. I told you on the phone that I was coming over to have dinner with Harrison

ung all night. She was painting me as the vi

erformance, boiled over. He strode

rled, grabbing my arm. His grip was like s

nd shoved me toward the narrow s

e in this house. You need to cool

tairs. The air was damp and smelled of dust and mildew. It was the

arn some respect," he said, his

d my phone from my hand. I watched, helpless, as he unlocked

of him. Candid shots I had taken at the firm, a picture of him smiling at a Christmas party, sketches

obsession for good," he said,

e door shut, and the sound of the lock clicking into place was the loudest sound I had ever h