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.

quivered, and she was at a loss for

and blurted out,

mid-sentence; with her eyes downcast, she just

downstairs, she had flung him

Zoey didn't

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

hadn't seen in

eyes; it was like something pierced

a stub, and the

caught up in the moment, immersed in the memory when she and Fitch first

was back, she'd momentarily forgotten all

kind of person - a little bit of sweetness could

furiously. He had been well-fed by Zoey

sounded tender

food

flicked away

get up,

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

was a one-sided release of

creaked loudly for a long

over, his forehead was resting

she was freshly showered, the scent of her body wash lingered in the air - a

grabbing

said nothing, clinging to the last shred

quick adjustment of his pants,