His Cruel Test, My Broken Heart

. It wasn't a home, it was a stage. I found a cheap motel on the

and texts flo

y did you

l me back.

ng news for u

answe

d dropped it into my bag.

I felt numb, detached. My only goal was to cut the final tie. I

looked surpri

you'd be with M

esign," I said

ing Jake at a small cafe two years ago. He told me he was an aspiring entrepreneur whose business had

ther, Sarah, taking on extra sewing work, her fingers getting pricked and sore, her cough getting worse day by d

"Jake's a good man. When you love someone, you help t

ach churn with a rage s

the final document, the do

as J

me, a look of relief

you are. I wa

t the paper. I picked up the pen and signed my name with a firm, clear stroke. I slid

"What's this? Lily,

ller," I said, my voic

tried to take my hand, his voice dropping to that

What's wrong? Did

ought I knew was gone. In his plac

tarting to whisper, their eyes wide with curios

his gir

propose. She's going to

s so

t lucky. I was a survivor of a catastrophe he had created. All I wanted