Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Zoey had had enough. Feeling drained, she pushed herself up and trudged to the bathroom for a shower.

Stripping down, she caught sight of the bruises that peppered her skin, souvenirs from kicks and blows, even her lips weren't

spared.

The woman in the mirror looked gaunt, and her eyes were unnaturally large against her thin face.

After her shower, she returned to find Fitch still hanging around. She didn't quite get his deal, and she didn't press him to leave.

She made herself a steaming bowl! of oatmeal, and it was only then that she felt a flicker of strength return to her body.

While she was at the sink washing dishes, the doorbell rang.

Peering through the video intercom, she saw it was the building manager.

"Zoey," the manager called out from outside.

She hurried to open the door and was met with the sight of the manager holding a small dog.

"Zoey, we found this little guy wandering around the complex. Last tsomeone tossed him into the pond to drown, but

thankfully, a passerby rescued him. We've asked around, and nobody knows whose it is. Someone mentioned it might be yours.

The dog's been at the office, but it's too noisy. Is it yours?"

Zoey stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. After a long moment, she finally took the trembling, grey pup into her arms.

Ozzy whimpered softly.

at a loss for

Fitch was there and blurted out, "Fitch, look at Ozzy,

with her eyes downcast, she just quietly stroked Ozzy's

she had flung him into the pond without a

dirty. Zoey didn't know he had been

Zoey had called out to him, his

hadn't seen

her eyes; it was

down to a stub, and the

up in the moment, immersed in the memory

Ozzy was back, she'd momentarily forgotten all her recent

of person - a little bit of

wagged his tail furiously. He had been well-fed by Zoey before, but

bark sounded tender and

watched him devour the food in his bowl,

window, flicked away

about to get up, she was suddenly

unable to move, she felt pain; Fitch's hand traveled from

was a one-sided

creaked loudly for a long

was over, his forehead was resting against her back, and his breaths

freshly showered, the scent of her body wash lingered

grabbing a blanket to cover

to the last shred

were still neat. After a quick adjustment of