Because it's your fault. You wanted too much so you give and give because you were too scared to take and then someone gives you something. Offers it.

[ you is doing a lot of work here and grace feels bile burn at the back of her throat. she swallows it back, tongue tracing over her teeth. she should have known, everything comes with strings that tangle you up and soon your running through your new husband's family basement and he tells you that it's your fault anyway.

she's the one that wanted to get married.

discomfort rolls her shoulder, hand lifting to press into it, imagining she can feel the scar through the sleeve of her dress pressing against her palm. whatever acceptance or reckoning she's yearning for to untwist the knots alex tied her hasn't come yet and it doesn't feel like it will tonight.

her breath leaves her in a shaky exhale, a soft huff of sheepish laughter with little mirth. ] My husband's family tried to kill me on our wedding night so... I sorta promised myself I wouldn't get married again. [ she tries to offer a smile but it's creaky at the edges like fragile ice, ready to snap under her feet. ] You're way prettier than Alex though.