It Was Time : Not too late and not soon enough. She could hear the laughter and the loud music and they drowned out that tiny voice of reason. Her eyes filled with red as her hands clutched wildly at the glittering zari around her neck and her legs kicked out from under her. She gasped and twisted before finally hanging limp. Her last thoughts had left her with a smile.

Last Thoughts : The coffee place was all but routine now. And they all tumbled into the air conditioned haven one after the other. She sipped her iced coffee, staring absently into the distance till the door opened and he walked in. All the heat seemed to have dissipated from her as she forgot to breathe . She didn't see the woman walking by his side, their hands touching over the table or the ring on her finger. It just didn't matter.

What Did Matter : It had been months now, since that day at the coffee shop. She lay wrapped in his arms, watching the setting sun cast shadows on the ceiling. Even as his even breathing soothed her own, she couldn't sleep. She knew what was coming. They would find out eventually, about him, his wife and this dead-end relationship. She shut her eyes tight against the thought as the sun finally sank and left them in the dark.

The Darkness : The deal was made. He paid the man and pocketed the change. Walking back to the house, he looked up at the gathering clouds, hoping they wouldn’t be here tomorrow and noticed her sitting at the window, the women all gathered behind her, admiring the finery. He smiled, thinking about all the years he had planned for this, since the day she was born. She sat there, silent and motionless, as they talked on about silks and chiffons, screaming inside. Her hands clenched and her nails tore into her palms as she told herself that it would be time. Soon.