Page 2 of Overstaying His Welcome

She knew what would happen. He’d hurt their son. It had never happened before, but the rage in his eyes showed his patience, what little of it existed anyway, had disappeared.

There was only one thing to do.

She wasn’t strong enough to stop him. After years of trying, it was beyond hope.

But she was smart. And if she played her cards right, she could end it all right then and there.

As he raised his arm to slap the boy, she grabbed the large butcher knife to their other side. It was just out of his line of sight. Just far enough back to give her a chance.

With the blade in hand, she slashed down right where his neck and shoulder met with every ounce of strength she had.

“Run!” she yelled to her son. He watched her with wide eyes for a moment before tearing off towards his room.

Knowing the single wound wasn’t enough, she yanked the knife free to stab him again. He spun to face her before she could attack again.

“You bitch!”

Her body shook with an abundance of adrenaline. Her chest felt like it was going to burst from the rate of her heartbeat.

His hand was locked around hers, holding the knife to the side as blood poured from the wound at his neck. The hand not holding hers captive wrapped around her throat.

Fuck.

Was this how it would end? With him choking her to death as he bled out?

Or would he survive? She didn’t think he could, but what if he did? Then their son would be forced to live with this monster.

She used the last of the energy she had to kick out at him. He grunted at the blow, loosening his hold on the knife for a fraction of a second. Taking the advantage, she moved her arm to stab the same side at a different angle.

How many wounds would it take to kill the bastard? Wasn’t the neck a lethal spot?

As if the universe finally decided to give her a break, he gasped and reached for his neck. Even more blood poured from his body as he dropped to his knees.

Wide eyes met hers, disbelief reflecting in his irises. She’d stabbed him, taking his life like he’d always threatened to do with her.

“That’s right, you big fucker. It’s over. You lose,” she whispered.

He reached an arm out as if to grab her again, only to freeze and tumble over. She moved out of the way in time to avoid being trapped by his massive form.

She immediately pulled out her phone and put on the performance of a lifetime. “Please help. He hit me. And I… I had to… oh god, I had to stop him. Please help. I don’t know what to do.”

The person on the phone told her they’d get someone out to assist her even though she didn’t give more details. She hung up, despite their insistence she remain on the line.

“Sweetheart!” she cried out as she moved out of the kitchen to the small hallway. “It’s ok to come out. It’s over.”

Had she taken a moment to think it through, she’d have waited until the police arrived. She wouldn’t have gone to him coated in blood.

Then again, maybe she’d have done the same thing.

Because the second his wide eyes met hers, he smiled. “You slayed the dragon, didn’t you?”

She gave him a watery smile. He was referencing one of his favorite stories about a prince who slayed a dragon who’d terrorized his country.

“We’re safe now, sweetheart. No more dragons. No more monsters.”

Her words held a confidence she hadn’t felt in ages.

Too bad for them both it wasn’t the truth. There were plenty more dragons and monsters to defeat in the world. And that little boy would dedicate his life to protecting people from them.

---