When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Vinson looked like he had just dashed off a construction site, still clad in his work gear, his face smeared with dust, and breathing heavily.

But he couldn't care less, "What's up with Clyde?"

"What else could it be? It's all about that Rachel!"

Jade clenched her fists, seething with anger.

"Even if Clyde's been a mess, he couldn't have forgotten everything, could he?"

"And that Rachel, knowing full well the situation, how dare she try to step into your shoes?"

She and Eliana started ranting, while I closed my eyes, taking it all in.

Rachel might have fallen for Clyde back in college, and perhaps that's where her resentment towards me stemmed from.

Every time I bought her lunch, making excuses for not wanting it or being unable to finish it, I could see a glimmer of resentment in her eyes.

Back then, I thought she resented her own lack of means or her background.

It never occurred to me that she resented me.

She might have felt I was insulting her with my charity, or that I was just discarding things I didn't want onto her.

this resentment had sharpened

why she

a fleeting moment of happiness,

gathering still echoed in my mind. I was always the beloved

of agony being married to Clyde had brought me.

eyes, I

Warren thought they were too noisy and sent them

bed, silent, just watching my hand as the

"Vinson..."

"Does it hurt?"

spoke at once, then

"No, they

away, not wanting him to

hurt? The injection

the needle in my hand, I felt

children because it would be too painful, knowing how

knew pain was my greatest

when I was sick, he'd be by

offer me the basic respect, thinking everything I

to me, bleeding, I saw Clyde hesitate, but he didn't turn back to

he saw