She could feel her heart beat as it pounded against her ribs. It hurt more then the knife wound in her side. She felt like her heart was going to explode, but what else was new, he had broken it so long ago. She ran as fast as her tortured body allowed her. The terrain was rough, fallen trees, and stray rocks covered the muddy forest floor.

She could hear his voice calling her name through the trees. “Heather… I am sorry come on, let me help you…” the voice tried to be her friend, it tried to reassure her. But it was to hard for her to trust. The cold of the empty forest mimicked the cold that gnawed at her barren soul. But right now she wasn’t thinking, she wasn’t caring, she wasn’t anything but trying to survive.

A piece of the dead forest that scattered the ground grabbed her ankle pulling her to the ground. The impact on the soggy ground sent bolts of pain through her. She clamped her muddy hand over the wound in her side and staggered back to her tired feet. She was coming to the realization she could not do this for much longer.

“Heather, CUT THE CRAP! GET OUT HERE NOW!” the voice was beginning to turn into the monster she hated. Hearing the anger in the tone of the man’s voice made push herself even harder. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU,” The voice said, almost close enough to be right next to her. Her vision was blurry, but she could hear him as clear as a bell. “There you are,” he said. She knew he had found her.

She stood up and turned in the direction of the voice, preparing to meet her end. She felt the unstable ground at her feet. Her broken high healed shoe loosened some of the gravel at her feet causing it to fall away. She then realized that she was standing on a cliff. A faint smile came to her blue, lifeless lips. She could let him kill her, giving him the ultimate power or she could keep that power for herself.

She felt with her foot for the edge of the cliff. “Heather…” The voice said. “You are going to get hurt, give me your hand.” For the first time in a long time there was really something to smile about. She was in control. She took a step back and let her body be overcome by the forces of gravity that pulled her downward to the earth that she had come from. The last thing she heard was him screaming her name as she fell. “Heather…”
 

It hadn’t always been like this. When Heather met Adam it was love at first site. He was tall and muscular. His beautiful long blond hair made an angelic frame to his perfect body. They were in the same bar on the same night. All the girls who accompanied her were awestruck by his beauty. There was not a thing about the man that wasn’t perfect. He seemed to walk around totally unaware of just how amazing his appearance really was.  It wasn’t that she though that a guy like that wouldn’t go for her, it was just he caught her off guard. To her it was like staring at a star, knowing there is no way to ever harness the beauty. She didn’t know what to say as he approached her and asked her to dance.

She spent the evening twirling around the dance floor in his arms. She had never been in the presence of such an amazing guy. She didn’t say much to him, in fact by the end of the night she didn’t even know his name. “Adam,” he answered her in between the DJ’s choices of dance tunes. The rest of the evening they did not speak to each other. They just danced. Everyone commented that they looked like the perfect couple. She was a petite beauty, which seemed to fit perfectly into his muscular arms.

At 2 AM in the morning the club closed. Heather looked around for the friends who came with her. “They already left,” Adam informed her. She hadn’t even noticed. He put his arm around her shoulder and led her outside the club. “I…” She tried to vocalize her qualms with leaving with a stranger from the club. “Don’t worry about it,” he whispered in her ear, “I won’t hurt you, I promise,” he said making his little boy scout symbol with his right hand. She giggled and let him lead her to his car.

“My apartment is the next left,” she said. Adam frowned, “Why don’t you come back to my place?” he asked. “You haven’t eaten, You got to let me cook for you,” he continued with a huge smile across his face. She was so taken by his beauty she felt powerless as she said, “Okay.”

He pulled the Mustang convertible into the circular driveway of one of the Mansions on Society Hill.
Heather didn’t believe that anything but royalty would live in such a house. It was huge, and had towers like a castle. Beautiful green Ivy climbed up the stylish tutoring on the massive homestead. Adam parked the car next to five other cars that were worth at least $200,000 a piece. He got out and like a gentleman opened the door for her.

She stepped out onto the cobblestone driveway. “This is beautiful,” She said awestruck. “Hum I don’t like it as much as my parent’s home in the Poconos,” he said shaking his head. “But it isn’t bad,” he said opening the large, decorated Oak door. It swung open to reveal a beautiful decorated foyer. “This is yours?” Heather asked. “Yep, all mine,” He said leading her into the kitchen.

His amazing meal turned out to be heated Campbell’s soup, because the butler had the night off. He didn’t’ speak much, at least not about anything important. “Ready for bed?” he asked her. She stopped. He didn’t mean that he wanted to engage this relationship on the first night they met. “What’s wrong?” he asked her putting his arm around her pulling her closely to him. “It’s just that I don’t think we should do this, we barely know each other,” she said. “But Heather, I know you want to,” he whispered into her ear. “No really, please can you take me home?” she asked.

He seemed mad as he pushed her away from him. “God, Why doesn’t anyone ever find me attractive?” he asked. “I find you attractive,” She said trying to reassure him. “Then why don’t you want me?” he asked. In hind sight she could tell he was manipulating her, but then she thought she saw pain in his eyes and she trusted that. “I do want you…” she was trying to tell him that she didn’t want to jump into anything but was cut off as he pushed his lips against hers. He pushed her down on the ground right there in the kitchen.

She didn’t have time to protest, but pretty soon she was caught up in the superficial passion of having intercourse with such a beautiful body.  She was enjoying him at first but he wasn’t in the least way gentle with her. She enjoyed him but knew she would be soar from how rough he was. He was carried her back to his room. “That was great baby, lets do it again,” he said moving his hands over her body. “I hurt to much,” she said to him. “You didn’t like it?” he asked but didn’t give her time to answer, “I know you did, so com on, lets have more fun.”

The next morning she woke up in terrible pain. She remembered where she was but most of the night was a blurr to her. She looked over. The sun came through the large windows and cast upon Adam’s perfect body. The rays of light turned his blond hair to blazes of fire, and the warmth seemed to make his skin feel softer then velvet. He lay there fast a sleep, with the white satin sheets covering his body. He took up most of the bed but she didn’t mind, his body was just a sight to behold. She didn’t want to wake him, but when she went to move she was reminded of the pain from the night before.

Her soft moan woke him. “Hmm.. Good morning…” he said reaching over and kissing her. “Morning,” she said happy to see his beautiful face. “Last night was great,” he said to her. She didn’t respond. “Come on,” he said leading her to the bathroom. They showered together. This was one the moments where he was the gentlest man she knew. She was totally in love with this Adam.

That day he took her back to her apartment. He took one look at the place and insisted she move in with him. “No really Adam, I like it here,” she said pointing to the small ghetto apartment. “I am free here,” she said. She walked around to show him the murals she had painted on the walls. He seemed totally uninterested. “Look, you can keep the place, but I don’t feel right letting you stay in this neighborhood all alone at night,” he said. There really was no argument, what he wanted he got.

She moved in with him that evening. He set up a studio for her so she can practice her art. He bought her everything her heart desired. He got her a car but wouldn’t really let her drive it anywhere with out him knowing first. He would monitor who she talked to on the phone. He didn’t approve of her talking to her old friends or any men what so ever. He basically took over every aspect of her life.

She always though that she would mind having a guy as controlling and possessive as Adam, but it was different when she was with him. She feared that she would lose him. His beautiful demeanor lighted up everyday. She would dress just so she would look her best for him, and would spend hours just waiting for him to return to her so they could be together. She hadn’t even noticed that it had happened but she had grown totally dependent on him.

It wasn’t really a bad arrangement until she got a call from Jack, her brother. He was calling from Phoenix where he lived. They barely got to see each other so they spent an hour on the phone. “Oh he is wonderful Jack, you would not believe how good looking he is,” Heather said to her brother. “I am sure Kissie,” Jack said, calling her, her childhood nickname. “It’s just that don’t you think that you are moving to fast?” he asked her. “No, Jack believe me it’s great,” Heather said. “Okay so Friday I am going to be in town,” Heather heard the door open, meaning Adam was home. “Okay Jack, Adam is home so I have to go, but I will meet you Friday here around 5 o’clock,” she said. “Okay Heather, take care,” Jack said breaking the connection.

After she hung up the phone Adam came into the room. He looked mad but she didn’t know why. “I never thought you would be such a whore,” Adam said to her.  “Adam…” Heather said, “IT isn’t what you think…” She didn’t have time to explain. Adam clamped his musical hand over her mouth. “Don’t even try to explain bitch, I don’t want to hear how much of a whore you are,” He said. He backhanded her across the cheek. He went about beating her for 45 minutes, at the end of which he just went to get changed into something less bloody and headed for the bar.

Heather managed to crawl over to the phone that had been knocked off it’s cradle during the scuffle and dial 911 before she passed out.

She woke up in the Emergency Room. He was confused, all she could see was bright lights shining in her eyes, and all she heard was strange voices speaking words she didn’t understand. “Mam, could you tell me who did this to you?” on of the voices asked. She then realized that her beloved Adam had put her into the hospital. She became very afraid that she was going to die. “Adam…” she managed to say.

She heard the voices of the hospital staff talking about how that was her boy friend. The pain medication put her to sleep. When she woke up again she was in a different room. IT wasn’t a bright or busy as the last. Her right arm was throbbing in pain.  “Where am I?” she asked. “A hospital,” a lady dressed in a white scrub uniform said. “Where is Adam?” Heather asked. “We do not know, but don’t worry we have you guarded he will not be able to get near you.” Heather didn’t know what to think about this. She loved Adam right. She had a hard time remembering why she was mad at him. “No, I need to see him,” she said. “Miss, did he do this to you?” the nurse asked. Heather didn’t know what she was talking about so she just answered, “no.”

Just then a commotion arose in the hallway. “LET ME IN,”  an angry voice yelled. “Sir, I am placing you under arrest…” Another voice said but the nurse cut him short. “We can’t do anything now Paul, she said he didn’t do it,” the nurse said obviously disappointed. “You see, let me through,” Adam said pushing past the police officer into the room.

“Baby?” he asked looking at the sorry state of Heather. He one eye was bandaged, she had bruises all over her face, her right arm was in a cast and elevated on a pillow. “Adam?” she asked. “Yeah I am right here,” he said taking her good hand. “Leave us alone,” Adam yelled at the officer and the nurse, both of whom turned and left. “I am sorry,” Heather said, remember she did something to make him mad, “Don’t worry about it baby, I forgive you, Now just sleep and get well,” Adam said kissing her forehead.

It wouldn’t be her last time in hospital. Over the course of the next 4 years she was in the hospital 12 times with wounds inflicted by her so called love. Every time she returned home with him to their beautiful house. After three years Heather’s spirit was broken, she didn’t believe that she was strong enough to deal with it one more time.

She was about to take one of the collectors knives from Adam’s study and see how easy it would be to cut her wrists. She had it all planned out, but the morning she was going to try she got terribly sick. Adam was concerned so he took her to a doctor. The result came back that in 7 months Heather was going to have a baby.

At first Adam was happy with this. He wanted a little boy that would grow up to be just like his father. Heather was happy, for Adam’s disposition was much better, and she had something to live for. For the first time in a long time it looked like things were going to be okay. But her luck turned around again, She went to the doctors for a check up. She was getting the ultrasound done. “Would you like to know the sex of the baby?” The doctor asked. She smiled, “Yes,” she said. “You are having a girl,” the doctor said.

Heather was so excited. A little girl, she would call Molly, and dress her in cute little dresses, and do her hair in pigtails. She drove home, Adam was waiting. “Hi babe,” he said kissing her. “Sorry I couldn’t come today,” he said, handing her a red rose. “It’s okay,” she said taking the flower and breathing in it’s amazing scent. “What did the doctor have to say,” he asked. “The baby is healthy,” she said, “He also told me we are having a girl,” she said smiling.

Her smile quickly turned into a frown. “A girl?” Adam asked, anger brewing in his voice. “Yeah, I am sorry I know you wanted a boy, but next time,” Heather said trying to calm him down. “Next time?” he asked getting closer to her. Heather backed away, like a conditioned animal afraid of the wrath of it’s master. “You are giving me a girl now, What makes you think that you can have a boy next time!” Adam said his voice raising to a scream.

“I am sorry,” Heather said, still backing away. He stalked up to her, “Sorry isn’t going to give me a son,” he said shoving her backward. She, in her delicate condition, lost her balance and feel down the steps. As her body hit the landing she felt a terrible pain in her abdomen. Adam rushed her to the hospital, but she didn’t need the doctors to tell her that she had lost her baby.

After all that she had been through in the last three years she never cried so much as she did over the loss of her little girl. She spent weeks lying in bed, listening to “Play Boy Mommy,” by Tori Amos, letting tears freely take over her. Adam for the first time seemed remorseful. He came home one night to find her in bed. He walked over and turned off the CD player that was set to auto repeat the slow sad music. “Baby?” He quietly asked her, “Maybe we should take a vacation,” she didn’t answer, “I know this place in the woods, you will love it, I am going to make reservations.” He sat down on the bed beside her and gently started rubbing her back. “You know, just you and me baby, and things will be perfect,” he said. She though about it. “Okay,” she said. He smiled, and kissed her, “Okay then, lets blow this joint,” he said in a comic voice.

The next week they made it up to a cabin in the woods. It wasn’t really a cabin, it was more like a five star hotel for just the two of them.  The spent two nights with out event, enjoying each other’s company. But as usual some normal piece of human existence pissed Adam off. He was in the kitchen holding a knife when he went to strike her. He never expected her to fight back.

He didn’t know where she got the strength from but she put up an amazing fight. The scuffled ended with the knife Adam was holding Embedded in Heather’s side. He went to call 911 but Heather was to scared to remain around him, so she took off running into the forest.
 

Once a week he needed to go out hunting so he would have food. These forests were filled with plenty of deer to make sure he didn’t stave. This evening the forest was a buzz with activity.  It seems like cops or some one had some business in the forest. He was afraid that they had come looking for him. He headed back down stream to his cabin. He stopped when he heard a faint moan. In the rocks by the river a beautiful lady lay nearly drown to death. He walked over by her. She would have been the most lovely woman he had ever laid eyes on if it wasn’t for the dinginess of her demeanor.

He could stay there all day, puzzled over the appearance of the lady. But it was obvious she was in pain, and he could hear the police getting louder. He scooped her up in his arms and took off away from the law.