After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 28

When I got home from the hospital, I dug out a few dusty camera bags from the depths of the bookshelf.

They held remnants of a life I had deliberately buried.

The touch of the camera's casing felt unfamiliar, and the batteries had long since drained.

While waiting for the charger to finish, I inserted the memory card into my computer and opened those long-forgotten photos.

The first photo showed me treating a Black woman receiving cholera medication on the street.

The second was of a five-year-old child soldier, so small the rifle towered over him.

The third captured refugees in North Kivu province living under torn, tattered tents...

The smell of smoke and dust seemed to waft through the screen, piercing the present.

My heart clenched as if seized by sharp claws, the ache spreading through me.

Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing pulse. A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

If Jackson saw these photos, would he still describe me as "obedient and docile"?

Just as that thought crossed my mind, my phone buzzed twice.

It was a message from Jackson: the restaurant's location.

That's when I remembered tonight was the gathering he'd arranged with his groomsmen and bridesmaids.

many close friends, so these were all

wasn't just

Sara had

the time I arrived at

saw Jackson seated at the head, with Sara beside

wasn't a seat

faint, amused smile appeared on her lips. She gave me a once-over

and sit wherever

a chair over and sat at the

unfold with indifference, never

we thought you wouldn't make it

had to crawl,

were met with knowing glances exchanged around the table,

Jackson do share

naturally revolved around

Mediterranean, trekking the Camino de Santiago in Portugal, and climbing Uluru

rapt attention, their eyes gleaming with

a woman! How do you even dare

Sara glanced at me briefly, her tone light but

woman who only thinks about cooking, husbands, and kids." Her words hung in the

downed a small glass of white liquor, the burning bitterness numbing my

she remained the center of attention, the life

everyone's

had his

gaze was tender, so

began sharing her recent experiences dealing with