The Unseen Scars of Her Lies

the old leather carry-on when

ere, leaning ag

two months' rent. A shopping bag from a high-end jewelry sto

ark Pe

than?" she asked, a pl

light, like th

at her. I focused on zipping

expensive perfume filling the space. It

ng her bag on the pristine white comfo

t moved my bag off the

ed from my face to the bag, then to

, disbelieving laugh. "Are you re

ched for my bag, her mo

d. My voice w

ering over the leather.

aving,

like she was talking to a child. "We're goin

m leavi

yful light in her eyes died, replaced by a

n't a happy sound. It wa

just trying to get my attention be

f my quiet, sad episodes that she could fix w

ards the door. My hand closed aro

id, her voice suddenly sweet, syrupy. "It's al

ld. I stopped,

l even pay for a wedding. We can get married. That will make h

t turn

idn't

n't possi

was

er took her last breath, my

to me now. A memory

sn't a lifeline. It was a

ed the