(Fictional mini-excerpt)

He adored her. She wasn’t sure why, but she wasn’t going to question it – she adored him back. 

From the time she was a child, life had been tough, and as an adult, her situation wasn’t much better.  She was embarrassed by the rundown house she could barely afford rent on. The clothes she had to wear multiple days because there weren’t enough to last until wash day.  Her strategic placement of flashlights and hoarded gallon jugs of water in anticipation of disconnected utilities.  She had what she thought was a good job, but it just wasn’t enough. 

Her embarrassment prevented her from inviting people in – into her house and into her life.  But he was different.  And in his eyes, she was perfect – perfect to disappear into his world without anyone giving her another thought.