Husband's Frame, Wife's Fierce Justice

instinct was t

ng her towards the emergency exit

ack at me. He just ran

rt of me, a small, stupid part, wante

a test. A power play. She was showing m

failed.

d me from behind, and I stumbled, my feet tangling beneat

my legs, my back. The pain was sharp and blinding. A he

The air was being cru

ision. My last conscious thought was o

in. The now-familiar smell of

open window. The smoke curled towards the

roken ribs scre

e cigarette, his movements je

ty. "I' m so sorry. I thought you were right behind me.

use. Always a reason

I said, my voice

, confused. "Y

wasn' t talking to me. He was talking to himself, trying to convi

t I wasn' t fighting him

washed over me. Th

a," I said, the wo

soon as you' re better, we'

t, brooding presence. His phone buz

," he said, a

st n

d into my bones. S

d the burner phone Jetta

mething for me. Find out whe

e looked... wrecked. His clothes

hrew a tablet onto my bed. "W

ina, her face streaked with tears. The headline read

tormenting the fragile, innocent Catalina. It detailed my "history of violence

rled, his face contorted with rage. "

said, my v

s grabbing the front of my hospital gown. He sho

in her life!" he screamed, his spittle hitting

stormed out, leaving me trembling, not

ull, constant throb. I thought about our wedding vow

f he even re