The scent of Brenda's perfume greeted me upon entering the house and reminded me of our shared life together. Brenda lifted her gaze from her magazine, showing her interest with her eyes. "Well?" she asked with a playful smile. "How did it go with Lisa?" I took a deep breath before I locked eyes with her while my heart raced faster. I told Brenda that Lisa had set up a meeting with someone who wanted to make our fantasy c...

Shelly stands at the mirror, tiredly adjusting her hair while remnants of her past—makeup and neglected beauty products—lie scattered on the counter. She selects a short red skirt and a low-cut lace top from her closet, symbols of her former, freer self. Preparing to confront Mark for her freedom, she wonders how much of her old identity remains. Digging through the clutter, she uncaps a buried lipstick. The red, almost f...

As David blinks awake, he sees morning light spilling across the room, with a yellow stripe cutting through the blinds. He turns on the bed to see Jade, who is sleeping beside him. The proximity and fragrance of his sweet daughter evoke an intense hunger within him, while serving as a painful reminder of the night before. As he admires her sleeping figure beneath the white sheet, a bare shoulder appears, which triggers hi...