”Allow me to explain——When I first met Clea my partner who I was with died in a tragic car accident a year before. I never dated and didn’t desire to be with anyone either. Then I meet Clea she was smooth talking and swept me right off my feet. Lavish trips, expensive clothes, jewelry, she pulled out all the stops. We only dated for four months before she asked me to marry her and I did. Shortly after saying I do I begin to notice a change in her behavior she became hostile, overbearing, and abusive.”

Tasha listening to Chris story begins to soften up and empathize with her.

”The entire time we were together I seen more hospital visits for broken bones, fractures, bruises, I mean you name it I went through it and to make things worse I found out she was abusing drugs.”

”How long were you together?”

”Seven years.”

Tasha just stares at her.

”She manipulated me into believing that I couldn’t do any better and I believed it. When I finally got up the nerve to end it I did a little background check on Clea. Come to find out she did the exact same thing to her other ex-wives.”

Chris took a long pause before she continued to speak.

”But you know what makes all of our stories different than Alice’s?”

Tasha shakes her head no.

”Alice had you.”

Tasha begins to tear up.

”Cleas motto has always been to prey on those weaker than her with Alice she made the mistake of underestimating you and the love you have for her all of which the rest of us didn’t have.”

Chris continues, ”I know about your background, the military, being a POW, your marriage to Alice, all things that if Clea was smart she would have left Alice alone. But when you live a life believing and feeling like your untouchable you’re capable of doing just about anything.”

”She’s my heartbeat you know?”

”Yeah, I know.”

“I’m not a violent person but when I saw her face and the pain she was in something inside me snapped. She is the most beautiful person I ever known and for someone to use her face and body as a punching bag for nothing———–.”