3
563words
He had to repeat himself two or three times.
Logan laughed in frustration.
"Grandma, are you in on her game too?"
He repeated it again.
Finally, Grandma understood.
"Sophia's not here. She hasn't been by in days. Actually, tell her when you see her that the grapes in the yard are ripe. She loves my homegrown grapes. Tell her to come pick some."
Logan looked confused, then a look of understanding appeared on his face.
"Is she hiding from me because she doesn't want to get an abortion?"
Now it was Grandma's turn to be confused.
"What child?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"Don't cover up for her. This child has to be gone. Back then, Sophia caused Chloe to miscarry. She can't have children anymore because of it. We owe Chloe this. Once the abortion's done, this matter is settled."
Grandma's eyes widened.
She staggered to her feet, pointing a trembling finger at him. "You beast! You utter beast!"
Logan frowned.
"Sophia was in the wrong first. This child can't stay."
"Get out! Get out of my house!"
Grandma, unsteady on her feet, grabbed a broom and chased him out.
Her trembling back reminded me of my wedding four years ago.
She walked slowly, holding my arm.
She made Logan promise to love and cherish me forever, to never let me down.
Back then, Logan was all smiles, making promises to everyone.
Logan's promises are the cheapest things in the world.
When he proposed, he said he'd protect me, so I'd never get hurt again.
Before I died, enduring the agony, I used my broken fingers to press the emergency call button on my phone.
I heard cheers and foreign languages on the other end.
My tongue was cut out.
I could only make guttural sounds, hoping he'd sense something was wrong.
Instead, I heard him say, "Didn't I tell you? Don't call me while I'm abroad unless it's important."
Then Chloe laughed and playfully hit him.
"Don't be so mean! Maybe Sophia has something important to say. Can't you be patient?"
Logan said reluctantly, "What is it?"
I used all my strength, but could only manage wet, rasping breaths.
This made the wounds split open again, blood filling my mouth.
I heard him say, "See? What could possibly be important? She's just looking for attention again."
Chloe leaned close to him, near the phone.
"Sophia, we're abroad, the time difference is a hassle. It's not a good time for calls. If it's something important, we'll have plenty of time to talk when we get back."
My throat was blocked.
I struggled to make a sound, praying he'd notice something was wrong.
Instead, his cold voice came through the phone.
"Sophia, don't call me again unless you're dead."
Logan hung up.
Then, the killer returned.
While he tortured me with even more brutality, my husband was vacationing abroad with his childhood sweetheart.
The killer taped their intimate photos in front of my eyes.
"You know why I left your eyes? Your eyes look the most like hers. Every time I see them, I want to gouge them out. But I can't. If you were blind, you couldn't see these pictures. You have to suffer with me."
The pain made it hard to even breathe.
He yanked my hair violently, forcing my eyes open. "Look at them!"
