I’m setting us both free

Arlo’s POV

The sight of her— torn, fragile with tears staining her cheeks made me feel like a monster.

Was this because we hadn’t spoken in five days? She was just talking with Willis, what went wrong. I wanted to wipe her tears all away, take her in my arms and comfort her until she was better. But that seemed like the last thing she wanted.

She begged me to let her go, her voice so small and broken that it gripped my heart, squeezing it cruelly.

“We talked about this, Lori..”

“Stop calling me that! I am not Lori. My name is Ivory.” She said, breaking down now. “I am taking blows and jabs for a crime I didn’t commit and you say you can’t let me go? This is illegal, you know that?”

“You signed a contract that says you agree to being here.”

“Well, I take it back!” Her voice louder now. “I take it back, I don’t want to do it anymore. Please, please, Arlo, I’m not her.”

I swallowed hard, my heart trembling in my chest.

“I told you, I can’t just let you walk away, Lori.”

“It’s Ivory!”