Eight Years Of His Lies

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y skull. It felt like a jackhammer against concrete. I reac

wrong?" His v

asp, the words barely aud

e just fell asleep." But then, a pause. "Are you okay? You soun

d. He knelt beside me, his face softened by concern. He brought me water, helped me take a pai

oice low. "He didn't mean any of that, Kiana. He loves you." He said

k to the life he had built away from me. I heard the

ied to focus. My body felt heavy, sluggish. A strange fatigue settled over me, deeper than

I couldn't call a friend. I drove myself, my head poundi

my chart. "You're on fluoxetine for depression, right? An

een taking the zolpidem. It makes me feel groggy. An

ow furrowed. "This isn't fluoxetine, Mrs. Hoover." He he

at's what Greg gives me. He

sedative. And a low dose of an antipsychotic. It would certainly expl

n. Not for insomnia. My mind reeled. Greg. He r

gaslight me, to make me believe I was losing my mind, so I wouldn' t question his lies. The real

olent shiver. My teeth chattered, though the room was warm. It wasn't just the cold; it was the sheer, b

. This house. This life. I had to

eyes fell on a small, ornate wooden box on my dresser. Inside was our "marriage certificate," framed. It

r family. A crayon stick-figure me, a stick-figure Greg, and a tiny stick-f

my purse after our "wedding." It read, in shaky child' s handwri

us allergy, now twisted into a cruel mockery. More than all the peanuts in the world.

eyond anything I had ever known. It wasn't just betrayal; it was a complete annihilation of my reality

kept on my nightstand. I held it close, seeking comfort from

one. Utterly, completely alone. And I ha

eg. Josh. They were home. My heart pounded

" Josh called out

, his voice a low reprimand. "Yo

treat when I got home," Josh whi

n lanced through me. Br

"Did Brittany also teach you to lie to your

oked at Greg, then back at me. "

his voice low. "You're scaring

s empty. "The truth about you. The truth about us. The truth about what you've been doing to me. All this time." He looked a

We can all sit down and talk. You just need to rest." He was still trying to manipulate me, t