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A knock on the
door startled Holly. He was early. She smiled to herself, then ran to the door
as the knocking became insistent. Maybe he couldn’t wait to see her, maybe he
was just as excited about tonight as she was. Maybe. She opened the door
eagerly.
Her smile died on her face. It wasn’t who
she was expecting. In her excitement, she’d let her guard down.
“Hello, Holly Noel.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Aw, c’mon, I just want to see you, baby.”
“It’s over and you know it. Please leave.”
Fear trickled down her spine. How far would he go this time? Holly began to
slam the door shut, to close him out of her life, to remove him from sight, to
push him into non-existence. If only it could be so. The edge of the door
bounced against his foot and slammed backwards, hitting her directly in the
face. She felt her lip swell as blood trickled down her chin.
Oddly, she thought about the mess it would
make on the carpet.
“See what you made me do? If you wouldn’t
be so unreasonable, these things wouldn’t happen.”
“Please leave. You’re violating the
restraining order. I’ll call the police.”
“You and I both know you won’t do that.
You love me, I know you do.” He pushed his way into the apartment. She didn’t
follow. “I don’t want to fight with you, baby. Why do you always have to make
things difficult?”
Holly knew she was in trouble. She’d known
it since the moment she’d stupidly opened the door without checking to see who
it was. It wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Ever.
“Don’t do this, it will only make things
worse. If you leave now, I won’t press charges. Just leave, peacefully and
quietly . . . please,” she begged.
His lips formed a wicked leer as he
scoffed. “You’ll always be mine, Holly. Why can’t you see that?”
Holly stepped outside the apartment door
and he followed, standing too close. If she made a mad dash for the stairs,
could she escape him? She wasn’t sure, but she doubted it.
“Stay back! It’s over. I want nothing to
do with you. Just let it go.” Where is
he? He should be here by now.
The expression on his face turned
stricken. “How can you say that? After all we meant to each other. I know you
don’t mean it.”
“I mean it. I hate you. I want you out of
my life,” she told him with steely determination.
“Don’t say that.”
“I hate you! Leave me alone!” she said,
this time louder, hoping to attract attention.
He walked closer and shoved her, making
her stumble. “Stop it,” she warned. They were making a scene on the landing of
her second story apartment and she knew he was very aware of the neighbors
opening their doors and peeking out with curiosity.
A mask of twisted rage contorted his
features. She knew that look all too well.
“I can’t believe you would say that,” he
said through gritted teeth, his face red with anger.
He shoved her again, but she maintained
her footing. “It’s over,” she reiterated bravely. “Leave me alone.”
He shoved her again, this time hard. Her
back hit the railing with surprising force. Holly knew in that moment he’d
finally done it.
He’d finally killed her.
She felt the railing give way and knew she
was going down and there was nothing to stop her fall. Even though a blood curdling scream rent the
air, even though her hands flailed wildly in an attempt to grab hold of
anything that might save her from this outcome, a strange feeling of peace
washed over her. In that moment, time stood still. She seemed to fall in slow
motion as her life passed before her eyes.
This wasn’t her fate. It couldn’t be. Where is he?
“Holly!” he screamed when he realized what
was happening. His remorse over his actions always came too late. The damage
was done. And this time it was irreparable. Really, it always had been. He
attempted to catch her, desperately groping the air for any piece of her that
might stop her descent.
It was too late.
He didn’t mean to do it.
He never meant to do it.
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