Betrayed By Love, Reclaimed My Life

thought my mother had used him? The woman who treated him l

mother... she was kind. She chose you because she t

rip tightening for a second before he released me a

ion that had been building for half a decade. "Five years I've tried

emory, perhaps, of a time before all this bitterness, a time when I would wait

. It doesn't suit you." He spoke as if he were granting me a

h gentleness, but with a possessive authority. "We're n

ouch. "Don't touch me," I

sgusted? You weren't disgusted tha

h fake concern, called out from the other side

smoothed his hair, and pushed me aside as if I were a piece of furni

hout a single glance back. He cho

y lips. It was over. It

It was a number my mother had given me years ago, for emergencies

the first ring.

g. "It's Chloe. I need your help. Mom

, firm and reassuring. "Of course, Chloe. I've been wai

it almost brought me to my knee

ered to the empty offi

uet of lilies, their scent filling the silent house. He pla

lowers," he said,

I was deathly allergic to. In five year

c," I said,

oyed. "Don't be d

I'm allergic. They make

wearing thin. He grabbed the bouquet and s

Red welts began to form on my arm. My throat started to close up, a familiar

the way I was struggling for air. Panic finally flashed in his e

n antihistamine shot, David stood by the bed, looki

nothing. No anger, no sadness.

nt things about me. He knew Samantha's favorite coffee, her favorite design

silent presence in the room. He even broug

phone rang. I

ke the call. His voice, which had been tight with

inutes later. "I have t

I just stared at

at the doo

ilent. He si

ging to his arm, looking perfectly healthy. She sat in the

said, her voice dripping with fake symp

f water, making sure she was comfortable. "D

ing up too late reading, for eating a second piece of cake. "You need

different. Her every whim was indu

ut my health or my happiness. It was simply that I was not th