"Aren't you so clever? What kind of talent is it, hiding behind people's backs to run your mouth!"
The second I opened the door, Jim seized my wrist.
"Why are you out there telling everyone Charity's a homewrecker?"
"She was already in a bad place, and after she saw those messages you posted yesterday she nearly slit her wrists in the bathroom."
"You almost cost a person her life, do you understand that!"
Behind him, Charity was crying so hard she couldn't get the words out.
She choked them out anyway, between sobs.
"Mary, if you don't like me, just say so. Why would you destroy me in a way this vicious?"
"I know you've been jealous of me since we were kids, because people liked me, because I had friends."
"But I never hurt you, I never once thought about wrecking things between you and Jim. Why are you doing this to me!"
I had no idea what she was talking about. I wrenched my wrist out of Jim's grip.
"I didn't do anything!"
"The two of you behaved like that. How is that my fault?"
The shouting was loud enough now to pull the neighbors' eyes to us.
Jim couldn't stand losing face, and it only made him angrier.
"Still talking back. Apologize to Charity, now!"
"She already told me. When you were a kid, people froze you out because you were always smearing and lying about them behind their backs."
"She's too kind, always covering for you. I'm not that easy to fool."
"If you don't apologize to her today, I'll make you pay for it a hundred times over!"
"Don't forget, your promotion is still sitting in my hands."
The future I once gave up for love.
Now it was the leverage Jim used against me.
I let out a cold laugh and shook my head, not able to believe it.
"You're out of your mind."
I turned to leave.
Jim grabbed my hair and yanked me back, hard.
I had no guard up, no balance.
I went over backward and tumbled down the stairs.
My father had just come home from work and saw the whole thing.
He rushed forward, roaring in fury.
"Jim, have you lost your mind?"
"Mary's pregnant. How could you do something this cruel to her!"
Jim's eyes went wide in disbelief.
He reached out to help me up, full of regret.
But it was too late.
The pain tore through me from the inside.
I closed my eyes.
Blood spread across the floor.
