I’d sit by the window sometimes, watching people walk outside... people who didn’t have to pretend. Dominic thought I was quiet because of hormones, so he got even sweeter. Always smiling. Always careful. Always pretending we were perfect.
When I was finally cleared to leave, he told me he had a surprise planned. His eyes lit up like he couldn’t wait to see me happy again.
But I didn’t feel anything. Just this cold, heavy emptiness in my chest.
I’d already lost everything that could be surprising.
….
He booked out an entire floor of the fanciest restaurant in the city just for me. No noise, no strangers but just us and a table full of food I couldn’t taste. He smiled the whole time, pouring my drink, cutting my steak, like we were the picture of some perfect marriage.
After dinner, he took me through one boutique after another, swiping his card every time my eyes lingered on something for more than a second. Shoes, bags, dresses... it didn’t matter. “Whatever you want, baby,” he kept saying.