The room stank of decay. It was the kind of scent that is known innately, even by those who had never experienced it before: an acrid stench of rot in the splintered wood beams that crisscrossed overhead and a mildewy dampness that permeated from the neglected bed. The wallpaper, once so pretty and fresh with its little pink rosebuds against a sheet of off-white, peeled away in weathered strips like tainted skin falling from the bone.

Madeline was careless with her heart.

Bianca, her cousin, could hardly consider herself surprised when she received Madeline’s invitation to visit the Heart Mender that afternoon. Madeline often gave her heart without consideration, declaring it in the name of true love. Yet she was still surprised, time after time after time, when it was returned to her with chips and hairline fractures. Lines of gold adhesive cut through the pink ceramic like rivers on a map.

I heard it from Justine who heard it from Vivi who heard it from her boyfriend Travis who heard it from Miranda who swore to God she was there, but she also lies a lot because she thinks it makes her cool and it really doesn’t.