Our Love, Our Mutual Destruction

lia

wn inheritance, a tiny nest egg she' d protected fiercely. After she died, it became my only anchor. Now it was

floor and wait for the world to end, but the agony wouldn't let me rest. I s

eturn: Revenge on a Former Lover?" The headlines were salacious, painting m

ed my forehead to the wet, grimy floor. It was a farewell. I was looking for my mother's memorial tablet, a small,

for for

the morning quiet. Brooks stood in the do

an earring?" he taun

my feet and started walking away, my bo

estion," he said,

g into a white-hot rage. I kneed him, hard,

other," I spat, my voice raw.

before it was replaced by his usual cold arrogance. "Is that all

s cruelty a chasm between us. Then I turned

otsteps echoing mine. "Running away ag

with your new toy, Brooks.

m. He couldn't stand that I had built a life, however small

him, to burn his world down just as he had mine. But

nd her team looked at my new scans, their faces a carefully construc

voice gentle. "How many of the n

," I

s a three-month supply. Yo

wildfire now, burning through me, and I was dousing it with

n call?" she asked, he

I said, the words from our phone call tast

tions have been so volatile

way, forcing me back into a war I was no longer equipped to fight. I glanced at my phone. A news alert flashed across the screen

said, her voice firm, "the pain will be

ption, her eyes pleading. "

was out of her office, I found a quiet corn

e pain regrouped and attacked again. I huddled on a b

The mother and young daughter

is crying," the li

n't star

anyone care about her? If she

hone buzzed in my han

y to come bac

or me? Maybe no one. But I knew someone who would be forced to a

be my p

ked to a deserted stairwell, the air co

as if he'd been waiting

, my voice steady despite the t

nd

," I said, the words clear an

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