Page 31

1998

Kaya is lying curled up on her side.

She doesn’t think Miika meant it to go this far.

When he stepped out of her way in the bedroom, Kaya had been momentarily relieved. Invigorated, even.

But something about her stepping over the threshold of that door must have made him snap.

First, he grabbed her hair.

Kaya had tried to fight him, but he was far too strong, and all of the anger and resistance she felt started to ebb as her usual survival instinct kicked in. Hunker down, foetal ball, protect herself and the baby.

The slaps and punches in the bedroom; they were classic Miika. He wanted to pummel her, to take out all his rage on her face but, actually, he didn’t hit her stomach, he refrained from doing that.

She thinks he might have left it there; with a bad beating. Then, maybe he would have kicked her out, or forced her to have an abortion, something like that.

But she didn’t just take it. She’d had enough. When it looked like he was done, Kaya pushed herself up off the floor again and slapped him. Then she ran past him, trying to get to the stairs, putting every last ounce of energy she had into making it out of that house and to her car.

He caught her again before she reached the first step. They tussled on the landing; he roared something at her, she didn’t even hear what it was he said.

Next thing, she was falling.

When she hit the bottom step, the damage was done. The pain in her stomach was so bad, she immediately knew what the wetness spreading between her legs was caused by.

That was only eclipsed by the pain in her head.

He’s standing over her, looking down.

Call somebody, Kaya wants to say.

If he calls an ambulance, she might be saved.

He can’t just leave her here.

She can’t speak. Her mouth opens and she feels like she’s gargling water. No, something thicker than water. It’s her own blood.

‘M—’ She chokes.

Her eyelids feel heavy. She’s tired. The agony is so bad, her body wants to shut down. To sleep off this beating, like all the others.

Her husband is still looking at her, his face a mixture of shock and resolution.

She’s seen him look like that before.

At the animals, when they’re dying.

Kaya’s going to die. She’ll die in this house she so badly wanted to get away from.

And Miika just stands and watches.