I couldn't believe what I had just done. My hands were shaking, covered in blood. The knife slipped from my fingers, and the room started spinning. At the sight of his body, I collapsed.
When the morning light touched my face through the broken window, everything came back like a movie I didn't want to watch.
He came back from work that night. I rushed to open the door with a small smile.
"Welcome back, babe," I whispered.
He looked at me, said nothing, and walked past like I didn't exist.
Not long after, my phone rang. My mom's voice filled the kitchen, loud and sharp:
"I told you to send me money! When will you ever be responsible?"
Her words cut deep. Tears fell on the counter. I stood there lost, asking myself a thousand questions I couldn't answer.
Then I heard him from the bathroom.
"What's for dinner?"
Dinner? With what money? He hadn't given me anything, and he knew I had just lost my job.
"Can't you hear me?" he shouted again, walking into the kitchen in only a towel, dripping water everywhere.
I tried to explain, but he mocked me, imitating my voice. Then his hand landed across my face.
I shook, I cried.
He slammed me against the door and banged my head on the floor again and again until blood filled my mouth.
"All you do is cry," he yelled. "You're 24 and still weak as a baby. Grow up!"
I couldn't move. My body was broken.
He looked down at me, smirking.
"You're just like your mom - "
"Don't you dare!" I screamed. "I am nothing like her!"
He laughed like he had lost his mind, then pinned me on the counter, squeezing my neck. I could barely breathe.
"I picked you up from the streets like a stray cat," he whispered. "I never loved you."
Those words cut deeper than any slap. I knew then - if I didn't save myself, I was going to die.
My hand found the knife on the counter. I hid it behind me.
When he turned to walk away, I stabbed.
He staggered, then laughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
"My poor little girl," he said. "Who will save you now? Call the ambulance. Come back to me."
He stepped closer. I stabbed again.
This time, he fell. But I didn't stop. Tears, sweat, blood - everything mixed. I screamed, "You made me do this! You pushed me to the wall!"
Over and over until he was gone.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
I sat next to him, shaking, covered in blood. I didn't know how long I stayed there, hours maybe.
When I finally stood, I looked at his body? at my hands? and collapsed again.