It wasn’t that I couldn’t leave Michael. I had stopped loving him a long time ago. But I knew him too well. I knew how cruel he could be.
Once, I refused to wash Regina’s underwear. I told him I couldn’t do it anymore. I had some pride left, even if just a little. Regina got angry and refused to speak to Michael. He was so frustrated that he snapped.
That night, Michael dragged me out, stripped me completely and locked me on the balcony in the middle of winter. I shivered out there all night until I passed out from a high fever.
When I woke up, he didn’t take me to the hospital. He didn’t even ask if I was okay. He forced me to clean up the bedroom, as if nothing had happened. As if I had done something wrong.
Remembering that, I lowered my head.
I bent at the waist, almost to the ground.
"I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."
But before I could finish my sentence, someone kicked me from behind.
I stumbled forward and hit the counter. A sharp pain hit my forehead and everything spun. I reached up and felt the swelling start to rise.
Tears blurred my vision, but I bit my lip to stop them from falling. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction.