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.

a loss for words even

she remembered Fitch was there and blurted out, "Fitch, look

mid-sentence; with her eyes downcast, she just quietly

carelessly tossed Ozzy downstairs, she had flung him into the pond without a second

dirty. Zoey didn't know

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

seen in

stirred by that glimmer in her eyes; it was

stub,

had been too caught up in the moment, immersed in the memory when she

she'd momentarily forgotten all

kind of person - a little bit of sweetness could heal her every

He had been well-fed by Zoey before, but now he was

his bark sounded tender and

devour the food in his bowl, her heart

flicked

up, she was

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

was a

creaked loudly for a

was over, his forehead was resting against

of her body wash lingered in the

casually grabbing a blanket

to the last shred of

were still neat. After a quick adjustment of his pants, he tossed a card onto

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255