The Price of Deception, A Broken Man

years, every dollar I made, every drop of sweat, was for Sophia. Her mother was si

wor

ed, and I took odd jobs like this one, playing a monster in a haunted escape room on a Saturday night.

d cheap fog machine fluid. I was supposed to be a "forgotten soul," lurkin

ar mix of exhaustion and love. I just wanted to finish t

n, flooding the dim space with bright, clean light from the m

umbled through, tang

rink," the woman laughed, her voice a melody that sh

voice better

as S

was supposed to be at home, resting. She' d sai

n expensive-looking watch that glinted under the harsh lobby lig

babe? Scared of a lit

y loud and dressed in designer clothes tha

pretty lame," one of the friends

every dollar we spent on groceries, giggled. It was a light, carefree soun

ure in the corner. She didn't recognize me. T

"Hey, look at this guy. He's

She walked right up to me. My heart hammered again

tly manicured finger. The fabric of my costume was

ripping with a contempt I'd never

me stumble back against the wall. The push was a ph

r workers," Liam chuckled, p

poor, struggling types. An artist. You have no idea how draining it is. He works all thes

sual, so cruel, slammed into me. M

smirk playing on her lips. "He gives me all

was a roar in my ears. It

hands clenched into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms

woman I loved, the woman I was killing myself for, laughe