Page 4 of Reclaiming Adelaide

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“I’msorry,”Icried,my compressed voice no higher than a whisper.

He’d taken my heart and stomped on it, digging his heel into it for good measure until it shattered. Each piece sharpened by his hatred, cruel words, and murderous rage.

His reaction to my betrayal was all that I’d feared and more. After a night of bliss and visceral contentment, I’d woken to hell’s fire released upon me with a vengeance.

As soon as he showed me the picture I’d taken a few weeks ago, I knew the fantastical moment I’d spun up in my mind had come crashing down, making my stomach twist into knots.

A barking, raspy cough escaped my throat. I rubbed my neck again, willing my heart to cease beating.

He’d turned on me so fast, like a starving dog on his owner.

I braced my weight on my hands and knees, then rose to my feet and wiped the tears from my face.

What if he came back? I glanced at the door and quickly locked the deadbolt. Not that it mattered. He had the key.

I needed to get out of here before he finished what he started.

He hadn’t strangled me for long before I’d lost consciousness for a moment.

When I’d discerned what had happened, I was on the floor, my ass aching from the fall.

He didn’t care enough to catch me.

And why would he?

I was the enemy now.

He hated me.

“Oh my God.” I put my hand over my mouth and pinched my eyes closed.

He hated me.

As much as I told myself this day would come, a part of me prayed it never did. Although I’d prepared for it, I never expected such a violent reaction from someone who made me feel I was worth the effort.

I never expected him to lay hands on me the way he did.

The things he said.

The hateful things.

He threatened to kill my friends and me—

Would he follow through? Could he possibly do something like that, or was it something he said in the heat of the moment?

I picked up the broken picture frame of a cow licking her nose with her tongue. The shattered glass stayed in the confines of the frame, but when I put it on the counter, the micro scratches became visible.

Tears flooded my lids again, but I brushed them away and walked toward the couch.

We’d sat there moments ago.

He held me in his arms and told me I was his. I didn’t want that before. I wanted him to let me go, sothis… Sothiswouldn’t happen..

But he also told me he’d never hurt me. He told me he wouldn’t let me go.

Some part of me thought that would be my saving grace, but it wasn’t. Not even close.

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