Grayson was there for me. Grayson was always there.
“You-you knew?” My tongue tangled over the words. “All this time? And you didn’t say anything?”
He tangled his hands in my hair, pressing his forehead to mine. “I responded to every single one.” Grayson’s thumbs dug into my jaw, kissing my neck before planting a hot open-mouthed kiss on my jaw.
“But…” My words were barely a gasp. “I would have known if you’d sent something to me.”
“I didn’t respond from my account. I couldn’t.” His eyes fell to my lips, but then he stepped back. “Open up your phone, little wife.”
Grayson waited as I opened my account, looking for a message, anything from him. I couldn’t find anything, but then I went to a spam folder—Atlas. I froze on the account name with a blank green profile picture. The first message started with Dear little wife.
I looked at him, eyes wide.
“Read it,” was all he said.
I don’t know why my fingers shook as I read the first message. Maybe it had something to do with Grayson, whose deep blue eyes seemed to reflect wildness outside. Or maybe it was the millions of butterflies flapping inside my ribcage.
Dear little wife,
I think it’s important you know these letters are the only thing getting me through this prison. I’ve turned on my notifications, and every minute my pocket buzzes.
It’s never you.
You lied to me.
I’m in my bed and the sheets don’t smell like you. I’m looking at my empty floor, remembering the first night you filled it.
When you filled me.
I never told you, but I stayed up that night. All night. Watching you. That night, to me, you were like…some dangerous colonist who wandered onto my untouched island. So I stared at you, waiting for you to do what everyone did. Lie. Steal. Destroy.
Then you shivered.
I guess I wanted you to know.
You lied.
All I fucking care about is that my floor is empty.
I’
m empty.
My sheets don’t smell like you.
I took a breath, and when I looked up, Grayson was watching. I felt like I should say something, but I had no words.
He stepped back to me, thumbing tears I didn’t realize had fallen.
“Do you want to keep reading?” he asked.
I rolled my lips, nodding.
There were more letters, so many more. So Grayson thumbed my tears as I continued to read.
Dear little wife, every secret I keep from you builds a new thorn around my heart.
They piled higher and higher until I couldn’t breathe.