He Crushed My Leg and Heart

"The homecoming party was in full swing, the air thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the desperate nostalgia of people trying to prove they hadn't aged. We were deep into a game of Truth or Dare, the kind that starts as a joke and ends in bloodshed.

Mallory drew the Truth card. She leaned back, her dewy, expectant eyes fixed on Barry, the man sitting right next to her. She tossed out a question that cut through the laughter like a jagged blade: ""In this life, have you ever—even for a second—regretted marrying your wife? If the answer is yes, take a shot.""

The rowdy penthouse suite went silent. You could have heard a pin drop on the marble floor. Dozens of eyes shifted, landing heavily on us.

I was the wife. Barry’s partner of five years. I was sitting right there, my hand inches from his.

Barry didn't say a word. He simply reached for the heavy crystal glass on the table, tipped his head back, and swallowed the neat bourbon in one jagged gulp."