Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 338

Don't think of bad things.

Mila fought to push away the dark memories and haunting fears welling up inside her. She forced herself instead to recall the good things she'd lived through-the moments of light.

She remembered sharing a bed with her great-aunt as a child, learning to sew by her side, hearing her gentle voice say, "There's a whole world waiting for you- don't let your childhood keep you trapped." Those words had taken root deep in Mila's heart, growing wild and strong, helping her break free when she needed it most.

She remembered her high school teacher-the one who took her in after she ran away from home, put her on a train to Kingsford, worried she wouldn't have enough to eat or a roof over her head. That teacher had quietly slipped a wad of cash into Mila's backpack—her first taste of real kindness, of love that felt solid and heavy in her hands.

It was worth more than gold, heavier than mountains and oceans.

She remembered late-night talks and laughter with Miranda, sharing new foods, swapping stories, leaning on each other-feeling, for the first time, that someone truly cared, that she had a friend who'd catch her if she fell.

She remembered meeting Forrest, their adventures together, his patient guidance with her studies, the gentle way he looked after her. For the first time, she realized that men could be gentle too.

She remembered the college mentor who cared about her future, who believed in her, who treated her well.

...

A stranger's hand helping her up after she'd been knocked down.

Countless smiling faces turned her way.

So many memories. Tears streamed down Mila's face as she counted them, one by one. And the terror that threatened to swallow her whole began to ebb. Over and over, she thought-

How lucky I am.

All those helping hands reaching out to her, keeping her from falling, carrying her forward. Even if those were the only good things she'd ever have, they would be enough—a life worth living.

already had more

before; she would survive this

to her feet and began to move through the empty, pitch-dark room. She danced slowly, humming a cheerful tune

soul danced wildly, the clang of the chain her only music, her voice ringing out through the darkness-free,

ends. People get

and dawn never came. Time lost all meaning. One by one, those precious, happy memories were drowned by fear and hallucinations, blurred and forgotten, destroyed by endless night. In the

She lost her mind.

the room, talking to herself, until she couldn't even hear her own voice anymore. The chain thrashed

She couldn't hear herself.

so many things-so many voices-but

her head against the wall, clawed at her skin, even tried to wrap the chain around her neck-anything to feel real pain, to remind herself she was alive, even

time she woke, her wounds

never

out of that room. Anyone—just to talk

say when,

...

a warm sliver of light broke through, stretching and growing until it formed the outline of

Someone was standing there.

the warmth of the light.

close them, couldn't risk letting

was terrified it was only

there, backlit so the face

time. At last, Mila crawled from the floor

The chain clinked softly.