I peered deeper and found my soul. A little tattered and with some holes, but there all the same. It had always been there, I realized with shock.

Words are easy. It's convincing the heart that's hard.

It’s your fault. I was defending you!” I blurted. He paused. “In protecting my honor, you exposed months of work. I should be flattered?

I never said it would be easy. Giving up is easy.

I wanted to dissolve into the floor, mixing myself with the hard stone. A stone had a single purpose: to be. No complicated promises, no worries and no feelings.

Everyone grieves in different ways. For some, it could take longer or shorter. I do know it never disappears. An ember still smolders inside me. Most days, I don’t notice it, but, out of the blue, it’ll flare to life.

Poisoned, pursued and living with a psychopath. Not what I would consider the good life. Death has its perks.