My Heart, His Cruelty

brought me breakfast in bed. He read poetry to me. He held my hand and told me stories of our f

mance. And I was hi

into the bedroom wi

" he said. "Someone is coming to sta

was before he

e is mo

and poisonous. I stared at him,

ous to the rage building inside me. "She can help you work

ld, unhinged sound that

l' me?" I shrieked, the laughter turning into a so

not speak of her that wa

s about y

he wore a simple white dress, her hair pulled back, h

ympathy. "I know this is difficult. But I'm only here

hand. "I brought you something. It will

narled, scrambling to t

v said, his patience wearing

, and pinned me to the bed. Estelle approached,

d out, clampin

ng. Estelle pushed the pill inside. I swallowed, choking, my eyes wate

throw it up, but it was too late. A wave of dizziness w

olving into a hazy fog. The last thing I saw was Estelle

manageable now

ents' screams, of Gustav's cold smile, of Estelle's triumphant ey

f quiet. It was the quiet of occupancy. I could fe

ght shone from under the guest room do

ck with pleasu

, low and

s sleeping with my therapist down the hall while I was grieving my murdered

wrapped in one of Gustav's silk robe

asked, her voice

I whispered. "How can y

think this is about love? Or healing? This is

ts? Every insecurity. Every fear. I was the one who suggested he isolate you from your friends. I was the one

t with the dull thud of confirmation. I had known, some

e grief, the betrayal-it all coalesced

hroat. I wanted to squeeze the life out of her

wed at my hands, but I held on, my vision tunnel

mp for a second, then slammed the back of her own head against the doorframe.

filled with manufactured terror. "

fury. He saw me with my hands on Estelle's throat. He

w me to the floor. My head hit t

you doing?" he roar

g. "Check the cameras, Gustav. Check the

im. "She went crazy, Gustav. She j

im, the man I once thought I knew.

to Estelle's bleeding, tear-str

id, his voice filled with disgus

d in the hallway. "Take her to the basem

my eyes on him, hoping for a flicker of doubt, a sign of the m

cramping pain shot through my abdomen. It wa

wet soaked throug

n. Blood. So

one from Amit. It wasn't f

ave him, Janey. But he might let you leave if

h

g agony. I was losing the baby I never even k

basement floor, the dark