Shattered

Shattered delves into the painful journey of emotional turmoil following a toxic relationship marked by betrayal, heartbreak, and manipulation. The protagonist is consumed by the collateral damage of being abandoned by someone who professed love whose actions contradict his words, leaving her in a constant state of confusion and longing. She struggles with the paradox of loving someone who has discarded her and enduring the emotional scars left behind. The story portrays the complex dynamics of love, vulnerability, and self-deception as she tries to understand how to move on from an illusion of love.

“Shattered is a raw, intimate exploration of a relationship that distorts love into something unrecognisable – a love that was never truly love to begin with. Lydia, much older than Bodie, believes her role is to guide him. Bodie, in turn, is cruel, coming and going at will, returning as if nothing ever happened. Lydia endures this cycle of abandonment and manipulation, convinced that love must bear such burdens. Both will be wounded in the process, but it is Lydia who will ultimately recognise the depth of the hurt. A poignant meditation on love, illusion, and the lasting scars left by those who walk away without explanation.” Marie-Michèle Adolphe, French and Francophone Literature, Loreto College, Mauritius

“Brisée est une expression brute et intime d’une relation qui transforme l’amour en un sentiment méconnaissable – un amour qui n’a jamais vraiment été réel dès le départ. Lydia, qui est beaucoup plus âgée que Bodie, pense qu’elle est censée le guider. Bodie, quant à lui, est cruel, venant et partant à sa guise, revenant comme si de rien n’était. Lydia endure ce cycle d’abandon et de manipulation, convaincue que l’amour doit porter un tel poids. Les deux seront blessés dans cette relation toxique, mais c’est Lydia qui connaîtra finalement la profondeur de la douleur. Cette nouvelle est une réflexion poignante sur l’amour, l’illusion et les cicatrices laissées par ceux qui partent sans explication.” Marie-Michèle Adolphe, French and Francophone Literature, Loreto College, Mauritius