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.

she was at a

she remembered Fitch was there and

her eyes downcast,

had flung him into the pond without a second thought

she found him dirty. Zoey didn't know he had been

window, with a cigarette between his fingers. When Zoey had called out to him, his eyes had

seen

eyes; it was like something pierced right through him, and it

cigarette burned down to a stub, and the ash

immersed in

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

that kind of person - a little bit

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

sounded tender

watched him devour the food in his

by the window, flicked away

to get up, she was suddenly pushed down onto

down and unable to move, she felt pain; Fitch's hand traveled from her back to the nape of her neck,

was a one-sided release of pent-up

creaked loudly for a

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

her body wash lingered in

grabbing a blanket

the last shred of her

a quick adjustment of his pants, he tossed a card