A Hundred Bracelets
It felt like an apology back then, like he cared about my feelings and knew what I liked.
However, the bracelets kept coming. More and more, pricier and flashier each time.
Eventually, I stopped smiling.
Six months ago, on my birthday, he gave me the 80th bracelet.
I made up my mind that night to file for divorce once it hit the 100th.
Half an hour later, my phone buzzed.
A soft, whiny female voice came through.
"Baby, are you here yet? Ugh, I missed you so much."
It was the wiretap from James' phone, feeding live audio into mine.