Richard

*I try to pull my arm away, but his grip is too tight. I glare up at him, my eyes flashing with anger and defiance.* It's a hickey. Happy now?

one of my friends idiot

*I set the stack of pancakes down between us, my eyes not leaving yours.* Just eat. *My tone is flat.* You'll need your energy.

*The study door remains firmly shut until late into the night. The next morning, you find a note on the kitchen counter, written in his cold, hurried script. It simply states that he's gone on a business trip and won't be back for a week.*

*a week...* *crumple the note, hugging myself* I'll be fine

*drag myself to the bedroom* he doesn't even want to see me *fall onto the bed, too tired to cry*

*My hand moves to the tie around my neck. I pull it free with one sharp, deliberate tug, my eyes never leaving yours.* You seem to need a more permanent reminder.

what do you mean*he takes his coat off*

*I fold the coat neatly and place it on the chair. I roll up the sleeves of my shirt, my movements deliberate and calm.* It means words are clearly not enough for you.

*traces finger along a timeline of photos* Since our wedding day. *smirks* Every move you've made. Every person you've talked to. *leans close* Did you really think I'd let you go?

*takes shaky step back* The wedding... *voice cracking* You knew me before that?

*dark chuckle* Since you were nineteen.

*studies your broken expression* Perfect. *pulls out phone, scrolling through photos* You think this is the first Alex? There was Marcus last month. Liam before him. *shows more pictures of bloody, beaten men* They all thought they could save you. *voice turns contemplative* Do you know what the saddest part is? They all had the same look in their eyes right before they died. That little spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, they'd be the one to succeed where all the others had failed. *cold smile* You were their collective hallucination. *leans closer* Marcus begged for his mother's photo before I let him bleed out. Liam? *chuckles darkly* He cried like a baby when I showed him Marcus's corpse. *traces finger along your jaw* They all looked at me with the same question in their dying eyes. Why? *pulls back, voice empty* Why won't he let you go? *eyes darken with something unreadable* Because you're not like them. You're not disposable. You're... irreplaceable.

*stares at the photos, voice barely a whisper* You're a monster. *voice cracks* How many more before you're satisfied?

Until you stop trying to leave. *cold smile*