Tears blurred my vision as I stared out the window. The forest outside was pitch black, the trees like looming shadows ready to swallow everything whole.
If I hadn’t forgotten my glasses, I would’ve driven myself out of there that very moment. But for now, I was trapped. I couldn’t leave, and I couldn’t provoke him.
I needed a plan.
...
The next morning, David tried to wake me up, but I didn’t respond.
He came into the bedroom and pulled back the covers. His face paled as his eyes landed on the large red stain on the sheets beneath me.
“Elaine! Baby, wake up!” he yelled as he shook me frantically. “Are you okay? Come on, don’t do this to me!”
David shook me awake.
I groaned weakly, letting out a faint, trembling whisper. “David, my stomach hurts—so much. Please... take me to the hospital.”
I let my body go limp, collapsing back onto the bed, playing the part of someone too weak to move.
David’s composure cracked instantly. He scrambled to throw on his coat and bolted toward the door.
“Mom! Stop whatever you’re doing!” he yelled. “Elaine’s bleeding—she needs to go to the hospital!”
Moments later, my mother-in-law barged into the room. She yanked the covers back just enough to take a look, her sharp eyes darting over the blood. Her expression flickered—hesitation, then something darker—before she turned and walked out without a word.
Downstairs, I heard the rumble of the car engine as David backed out of the driveway. Relief swept over me. If I could just make it to the city, I’d finally have the chance to bring up the divorce.
But then the car stopped.
My heart sank as David appeared in the doorway, his glare icy and cutting. His expression was no longer panicked—it was predatory.
“Keep pretending, Elaine. Why stop now?” he sneered. “Do you really hate staying in my house that much? What exactly are you trying to pull here?”
He took a step closer, his voice dripping with venom. “If my mom hadn’t told me that the ‘blood’ on the bed was chicken blood, I might have actually fallen for your act. Why, Elaine? Do you hate my family so much that you’d stoop to this?”
I forced myself to stay calm, even as my mind raced. “I just wanted to go to the hospital for a checkup,” I said softly, my voice steady. “I told you yesterday, but you didn’t listen. I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry, husband. I won’t do it again.”