Mauve woke up to the sound of crickets chirping in the distance. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of city lights streaming in through the balcony doors. As she turned on her side, her eyes landed on Kenneth sprawled out across the bed, snoring obnoxiously. His broad chest rose and fell, a patch of wiry hair covering it like some grotesque jungle.

Her lip curled in disgust. How had I fallen for this gorilla? she thought bitterly. Kenneth had a certain charm once, a dangerous allure that had drawn her in. But now, in moments like this, she could barely stand to look at him.

The restless...