Love, Lies, and a Fatal Dog

h empire, radiating a confidence that came from a life without obstacles. I was a scholarship kid,

th a single-minded intensity that w

said one night, under a sky full of stars. "It's

ibility I'd only ever read about. But I was always aware of the whispers, the disapproving looks from his

d to prove

uation, I accepted. We kept our relationship a secret at first. I wanted

ys, surviving on coffee and ambition. I once worked for three days straight on a major project proposal, sleeping on a co

thought if I could just become indispensable, if I could just achie

my achievements undeniable. Cohen was proud of me. He'

blicly proposed was the happiest day of my life. He announced our engagement to

Peterson came

and a sense of entitlement as vast as her trust fund. She had been l

hange. The time Cohen spe

g," he'd say when he canceled our dinner plans

te, affectionate nickname.

nds away. His social media, once filled with pictures of us, was now a gallery of his

my voice tight with a jeal

Jaycee. She's like a sis

same excuse. She

into bed without a word. I'd lie awake, staring at th

etting married. I had poured years of my life, my sweat and my soul, into this relation

t in my stomach. I chose to believe his lie

defense of Hillary, his prioritizing a 'business trip' over my fam

ed to make excuses. Until I saw

every illusion I had clung to. There was no

e. A deep, cruel, a

had abandoned me in my darkest hour to go

tic, transparent lie that I h

rd work hadn't earned me a place by his side. It had just made me a convenient

or nothing. The love I t

sion anymore. It was a certaint