He dumped every last pill of my clotting medication into the toilet and flushed. Then he gathered his family and left for their New Year's feast.
I lay in the freezing pool of water, watching fresh blood snake across the floor like a red ribbon.
Derek, you think I'm the one scamming the insurance. You don't know the beneficiary was changed to your name months ago.
1.
Cold crept up my spine. Searing pain tore through my body until I could barely breathe.
The wound ripping open nearly made me black out, but I didn't dare close my eyes. If I closed them, I might never open them again.
Outside the door, the Welch family's laughter rang bright and cheerful.
My mother-in-law's voice carried through: "We should've gone out ages ago. Spending New Year's Eve babysitting a sick woman—what terrible luck."
"Mom, keep it down." Derek's voice was light. Amused.
"What's there to worry about? If something happens to her, we'll get a nice payout."
The laughter faded. The security door slammed shut.
I stared at the ceiling. Tears and ice water trickled into my ears.
Three years ago, when I married Derek, he'd spun me in circles in the falling snow. He said, Alex, I'll treat you right for the rest of our lives.