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

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

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

had flung him into the pond without a second

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

window, with a cigarette between his fingers. When Zoey had called

seen in

in her eyes; it was like something pierced right

burned down to a stub, and the ash fell to

in the moment, immersed in

back, she'd momentarily forgotten all her

little bit of

owner's scent, wagged his tail furiously. He had been

sounded tender

devour the food in

the window, flicked away

up, she was

pain; Fitch's hand traveled from her back to the nape of her neck, pressing her

soft pillows. It was a one-sided release

bed creaked loudly

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

showered, the scent of her body wash lingered in the air - a fragrance Fitch was all too

casually grabbing a blanket

nothing, clinging to the last shred of

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