All he needed was the first drop of blood to set his heart singing. His eyes focused, his hands stilled, and at that moment he knew what it meant to be a man.

Sandwiched between the hardwood floor and his weight, her body jerked and kicked as he squeezed his hands around her neck. The cut on her cheek, though, was already beginning to heal.

“You brought this on yourself, you know?” His voice was like nails driving down the side of a chalkboard. “We were…perfect.”

The irrational need to laugh came to her then. Anymore perfect than this?

His ice blue eyes widened as he bared his teeth. Perfect, white, Chiclet-gum sized teeth.

Her hands shot out and her nails found purchase on his cheeks. Soon he was the one screaming, the one trying to scramble away from her grip as she gouged out his skin. Rivulets of blood streamed down.

A few warm drops spattered onto her face.

The first wave of nausea came soon enough. She pushed it aside and sunk her nails in deeper.

This was hard to do to the man she once loved, but not impossible. Monica was no longer a fool. 

Adam saw the ember of hope that flickered in her eyes and swung his heavy fist at her face at full speed. It connected with her nose, slammed her head back, and brought with it a pain she never thought possible.

God, please let her fall unconscious. Let her just slip away and become numb to the world.

But fate wasn’t that kind tonight. Instead, she gasped for air, afraid she would drown in her own blood. She hoped the next punch would send her off, but there was nothing.

Absolutely nothing. Just silence.

Through her tears she saw her ex-fiancé’s face hovering over hers, his eyes scanning her.

Then his hand clamped over her throat once more. Mentally, she had given up on surviving tonight, but her body still fought for itself. She futilely pulled at his iron grip, coughing and gasping for sweet air.

But as fast as he had grabbed her, he let her go.

Then he started to shake.

Adam’s eyes slammed shut, his mouth trembled, and his eyebrows came together. Suddenly, he jolted back and forth, as if a live wire had touched him.