The Man Who Abandoned Her Love

from my small Midwestern town to the glitter of New York City,

-girlfriend Karis' s salon left my hands ruined, de

ng her business. Days later, he drove me deep into a national park, pulled me from the car, threw

e casually laughing with his friends about abandoning me, calling me a

child, could see me as a disposable object, especially after my own

would cut all ties with Chase, starting with t

pte

my small, conservative Midwestern town and brought me to the glitter of New York City. Fo

e of nail polish that made my hands look best for a photo shoot. My hands were my life, my career. As a h

u a manicure at a new place, babe. It's supp

as always. "You did

you," he said, ki

sign. A woman with a sharp, perfect bob and a surgical

ice a little tight. "Thi

d mentioned her, but always as a closed chapter. Her eyes scanned me, a

ndary," she said, leading me to a chai

ggers of crimson. But the chemical she used on my c

ng so much?" I asked, tr

, honey. It's working its mag

. The skin was peeling, inflamed, and utterly ruined. A $300,000 contract for a diamo

ad been circulating for months. I had ignored them because Chase had insisted. When my agent called the salon a

ce twisted into an ugly mask I'd never seen befo

eads. He drove for hours, into the mountains, until we were deep

ut," h

ha

pty of any warmth. He pulled me out, threw my purse

y hands ruined, with no cell

A park ranger found me collapsed on the side of the road. When I finally got back to our

lway, hidden by the

In the woods?" one of his fr

ice was casual, light. "She and her agency

t, man. What if so

n? She's tough. A good Midwestern girl, right? Besides, th

od ran

chimed in. "Useful ho

nd her family hates her. Where's she going to go? She has nothin

all l

tches, talking about her 'career',"

asked. "Looked like something the cat dr

e said. "A little punish

the man I had given ten years of my life to, the father of my unborn

d feel guilty. That he would apologize. That la

ied she'll leave

loves herself. She worships the ground I walk on. She'll cry, she'll beg for my forgiven

thought we had. A bitter smile touched my lips.

hone. I dialed my mother's number. My h

voice was sha

lare. I... I

n? Your father and I are done. You made your ch

se, I'm in

your room last week," she said, her voice like ice

ne wen

wanting to marry a local farmer. He had seemed like a prince, my rescuer. Now I saw the truth. He hadn't rescued me. He'd just fo

of the apartment, and into the downpour. I walked barefoot through the city streets, the

ht. I walked to the counter. "

essional. She took me into a small room. A doctor ca

shed and severely dehydrated. Your body has been through

risks?" My voi

y to have children in the fu

stone mask. I nodd

sure ab

I whispered. "I can't be responsible for

or a few weeks away, giving m

nd his friends were still there, drinking. He s

orm blew in," he

iends

ming, doting partner was a performance. This cr

past him, into our bedr

ling, mocking me. The wedding was in a month. A grand affair he had planned, a public spectacle to show

they'd managed to negotiate a smaller penalty for the broken co

e me. He wrapped his arms around my w

ispered against my hair