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to lock away one more time.
    Drawing a deep breath, she ripped herself open and told them everything.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    “Until eleven months ago, I was married. Had been married for almost four years. We met and had a beautiful relationship.”
    She sniffled, debating what or how much when Troy told her, “It’s okay, sweetheart. We want to know. Whatever you want to tell us.”
    She nodded. “What I didn’t know was he was manic bi-polar. Until he snapped, no one knew. He tried to kill me the one time he snapped.”
    They sat in silence, though she felt the tension radiating off them as they heard her story. The soothing stroke of fingers on her where they held her never stopped.
    “I’d come home from work that day and began to make dinner. I didn’t know anything about it then, about what triggered his anger, or his attack. I still don’t. It didn’t matter in the end.” Feeling numb inside, she reiterated the events of that day the same way she’d had to on the witness stand. Unemotionally. Succinctly. There was nothing left of then to hurt her, except for her own fears. “I’d stepped out of the kitchen to go through the mail he’d brought in. Bryan had gone into the kitchen but I thought it was to get a drink, or nibble at dinner. He loved doing that.” She did have a few fond memories at least.
    “We were talking like normal people when he went crazy. He asked me where I’d been several times, getting more worked up. Then he punched me.” They flinched at her sides. She squeezed their hands, letting them know it was all right. “I came to with him straddling me, trying to choke me, but somehow, I caught him with a fist in the groin. It wasn’t enough. He’d hidden the butcher knife I’d been using for dinner somewhere. My screams and the fighting had our neighbors calling nine-one-one. Apartments back then,” she clarified. With a nod of understanding from either side, she went on.
    “It was that racket which saved my life. He would’ve stabbed me through but I managed to twist to avoid the worst. Almost. The last two inches down my side, he went deep and hit my kidney.”
    Troy formed a fist with his free hand, tapping the pillow on his lap. Anger at being unable to do anything. She released his fingers and curled hers over his fist.
    “I’m almost done,” she told them, knowing it was killing them to hear what had really happened to her. “Two weeks ago, the reason I was a wreck was because I was celebrating, in a way, the day Bryan was arrested. It was the day I woke up in the hospital and solidified the charges from murder to attempted murder. He’s in mental lockdown now. He’ll never be released. The divorce was final one month later. I was in the hospital for several weeks, and ever since that first moment of wakefulness, I’ve had to have a light on to sleep.” She lifted a hand of each man and pressed a loving kiss to their palms. “I am sorry for scaring you. I was trying to hide it last night. I know what it looks like.”
    “Shh,” Troy breathed, running his fingers over the back of her hand. “I’m just grateful you’re here.” He twisted and kissed her lips lightly.
    “And you?” she asked, facing Angel. “How do you feel?”
    Dark, cocoa bean eyes held hers. “Honestly, like just throwing his ass in a plush prison isn’t anywhere near punishment, but I know it’s the way things are done, especially if he has mental problems.” He cupped her face with his free hand. “We’ll be here for you. Right here is where we want to be.”
    She blinked, unprepared for the swell of moisture. Crap! All I’ve done is cry.
    He brushed a thumb under her eye, catching the falling drops. “It’s okay, baby.” Then he caught them on his lips, sipping them away as they fell.
     
    * * * *
    Sunlight filtered through the blinds and Michelle yawned and stretched, the morning’s warmth seeping into her pores. She reached out, but found empty air. Opening her eyes she