When Love Became Cruelty

ard, pushing past

s voice faded. T

s and Izzy

r voice was

ardening into a mask

ont of him, a protective ge

Amelia?" Marcus asked, h

king in the cheap dress, the

sing ghost

struggling past the lump in her thro

eer playing on his lips. "Quite the spectacle you made at t

delicate laugh. "She

eeling from his earlier words. "He w

ce sharp. "His advice nearly killed Izzy. She still h

one of practiced tragedy. "It's alright, M

er, hot and fierce, cut

your death! You let me grieve, let

like ice. "Clinging to a past that was never going to inclu

at loudly. "Madam, the bid for

to Amy. Shame bu

, a picture of magnani

card, handing it to an

back to Amy, hi

so fond of m

agne flute from

d make yourself useful.

ur table for the rest of the evening. Consid

aint, triumphant

some with pity, ot

ass in her hand, the weight o

she had loved, the man she h

stranger.