Chapter 5

"I will take nothing away from you. Why can't you let me go?" I asked.

Tom pursed his lips and gave no answer. He tucked me in, lay beside me, and then pulled me into his arms.

He knew how to silence me, like now. He didn't need to do anything because his silence was oppressive enough to intimidate me.

Time ticked by. The noises downstairs woke me up.

Tom was no longer by my side, and I didn't know when he had left me.

I put on a coat and then left my room. In the spacious living room,…