Page 117 of Return Policy
I’m going to pass out.
I’m going todie.
Seth’s going to kill me.
His grip on my neck releases, and I fall to the ground, gasping for air. My eyes blur, but I’m too focused on the lack of oxygen to wipe away the moisture.
“Shit,” Seth whispers, dropping to his knees. “I’m so sorry, baby girl.” He reaches out, touching my knee, and I scramble away from him. “I di—”
“Stop!” I beg, weak and breathless.
“Please, I didn’t mean—”
“I hate you,” I whisper hoarsely.
His shoes come into sight as he crouches directly in front of me. “You don’t mean that, baby girl.”
Of course I do.
Tears stream down my face as I gather the small bit of saliva left in my mouth and look up at him. I spit directly into his face, and his entire body stiffens. “You’re gonna regret that.”
“What are you gonna do?” I cough, the words coming out low and rough as I struggle for air. “Choke me?”
He huffs a heavy breath. “You deserved it.”
“Help!” I shout weakly, and his eyes widen. “Please, someone help,” I attempt, but no one could possibly hear me.
He rushes to stand, backing away. “Keep your fucking mouth shut… Or I’ll be back for your little bitch boyfriend next.”
Seth runs down the steps and into the darkness as I lie there on the porch, coughing. My hand rests gently on my neck as if I can feel a scar from what he did. Once I regain my ability to breathe properly, the tears really fall, a sob escaping my mouth.
I can’t believe that happened.
He almost killed me.
Why didn’t I stop him when I had the chance? Now there’s nothing I can do.
I should have been braver before.
Why wasn’t I braver?
An undefinable amount of time passes before I peel myself off the floor and hobble back inside. My legs carry me mindlessly through the house. I grab my phone from the couch and stumble upstairs to the bathroom.
I take a hot shower, trying to scrub off the feeling of his murderous hand around my neck.
When the heat becomes too much, I get out and grab a towel, wrapping it around me. I wipe the condensation off the mirror with my fist. My eyes fall to dark red marks straight across my throat. With a shaky breath, I trail my trembling fingertips along the lines created by Seth’s relentless grip.
Please be gone by morning.
If I come forward now, I’m terrified what Seth will do.
He almost killed me just fortellingsomeone.
He’s threatened me before… But this time… this time he actually followed through.
What would he do if I testified against him?
What if Seth hadn’t stopped strangling me?
