Caleb went white, his lips trembling. "Zoe, please, let me explain—"
"Shut up!" I threw the other shoe straight at his chest. He tried to grab my arm, but I stepped back and slapped him hard across the face.
He stared, stunned, like he'd never imagined the quiet, gentle Zoe would ever hit him.
I grabbed his hair and forced him to look up, then hit him again and again with the sole of the shoe until his face swelled and blood ran down his chin.
He didn't fight back. He just took it, like he knew he deserved every blow.
I kept going until the heel broke, and my arm ached, until he spat blood onto the floor.
Then I swept up the ash from the burnt letters and tossed it straight in his face.
He was a mess.
I collapsed onto the sofa, breathless.
Caleb crawled over on his knees, ash and
