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Hilary
I wake to a dark living room. I’m on the couch, alone. Lance must have left a few hours ago. I’m disappointed I didn’t get to say goodnight. I’m exhausted. Everything around me seems to be catching up. I’ve been through so much stress due to Travis, and I’m hoping it’s finally at an end. I can’t continue to stress while I’m carrying an innocent child.
I sigh, pulling myself off the couch. I want a shower and my nice comfortable bed. I check the time on my phone. It’s barely after midnight. I can’t believe Mom or Dad didn’t wake me. I shuffle toward my bedroom, deciding the shower can wait until morning. I don’t even bother turning my light on.
I quickly unbutton my pants and shimmy out of them, leaving them on the bedroom floor. Just a few feet ahead of me is the cushiony mattress I can’t wait to touch. I close my eyes with a smile on my face as I crawl onto the bed. My comforter is silky soft, and I can’t wait to cuddle beneath it. I know I’m going to have trouble falling asleep without Lance here to hold me, but I’ll be okay. I really want to text him and tell him I miss him. He may not get it until morning, but I don’t care, and I know he won’t either.
I touch the home button on my phone and the screen lights up, illuminating part of the room. My heart leaps into my chest and my breathing becomes restricted.
No, this can’t be happening. This is all a figment of my imagination. This isn’t real. How the hell did he get in my room?
I don’t want to cry. I want to be strong and stand my ground, but the tears slip rapidly down my cheeks. I wonder if I’d even have a chance to scream. Mom and Dad sleep in a room on the other side of the house. Would they even hear me?
“Don’t scream or you will regret it,” he warns. His sinister glare shows he means business. He has already intimidated me into silence.
I nod. I don’t want to upset him. He reaches out to touch my leg, and I cringe, trying to move away from him. “What are you doing here, Travis? How did you get in my house?”
“Quit it with all the questions, Hilary. I think you know why I’m here.”
He’s watching me closely, so there’s no way I could use my phone. Think, Hilary.
“I…I don’t know why you’re here.” I can barely get the sounds out of my throat.
“Get the fuck up. He thinks he can take what’s mine? Well, I’m taking what’s his.”
“I’m sorry…what?” My heart rate increases and I’m trembling.
“I said get up. Now.” His words are calm as he pulls a gun from behind his back.
Terror thrums through me. The tears that fell earlier fall harder as I stumble to get up. Like a fugitive, I put my hands in the air praying he won’t do anything rash. I knew he could get angry. I’ve seen it before. But he’s never, ever done anything this stupid. When he’d get aggravated, he’d just go call one of his other women and leave me alone.
He grabs me by my hair and yanks me closer to him. Cries of pain fill the air and my knees try to give out from under me but I won’t let them. “Please, Travis, you don’t have to do this. What do you want me to do to make this right? I’ll do whatever you want.”
“It’s too late for that, Hilary. It’s time for both of you to pay. Just so you know, there is no happy ending.” His eyes are dark and cold, much like the barrel of the gun that is pressed against my temple.
“Wh-what are you going to do?” I ask quietly through my tears. I suddenly wish I had stayed on the couch.
“What I should have done long ago. If I can’t have you, do you think I’m going to let him take you? I don’t fucking think so. You think you can run off and have a happily ever after? Those don’t exist, Hilary. This isn’t a Disney movie, this is real fucking life. I control your fate, and your time just ran out.”
I hear him cock the gun and the tears increase again. I don’t want to die. I finally found happiness in my life, and I don’t want to lose it. What will happen to my parents if I die? Will they be able to continue to live their lives the way they always have? Will they know just how much I love them?
Oh God, Lance. Will he know how much I love him for everything he’s done for me? I couldn’t bear to cause him any more pain. I close my eyes, praying I will be remembered for all the good things I’ve done in my life.
When I reopen my eyes, Travis is just staring blankly at me. “You made me do this, Hilary.”
I lift my knee harshly into his crotch. He yells as he drops to his knees. The gun falls to the floor along with my body. My head aches from him pulling my hair, but I know if I’m going to survive, I need to get my act together and move fast. I reach for the gun and do my best to steady it in my hands. I’ve never held a gun before, and I wasn’t counting on ever having to hold one.
“You really think you’re going to shoot me? That’s not how it works. Give me the gun and maybe I’ll let you live.
”
“No.” My voice is still shaky. He tries to come closer. I can see the venom in his eyes. He’s not going to try to make anything better. If I give him this gun, he’s going to kill me. I can’t let that happen. “Come closer and I’ll shoot you, Travis.”
“So says the worst lay I’ve ever had. You really think you can shoot me? You can’t do anything right. Just give me the gun.”
“I said no!” I shriek. I hoped the noise might wake someone, but I’m still alone.
“Give me the fucking gun, you bitch.” He lunges forward.
