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SIXTY-FOUR

GIRL

I manage to draw in a breath. My baby is crying in my arms. Our baby – Luna. The light has gone out and all I see is the glow of the red light above. I’m too weak to protest as the woman takes my baby from my arms. The agony running through me is too much to bear. My breaths come fast and my heart seems to be pounding like it’s trying to burst out of me. I’m so damp underneath and still I keep bleeding.

As I go to stand, I collapse onto the floor next to my bed and reach out, all my energy going on dragging myself forward a couple of centimetres.

‘Albie,’ I scream, hoping that he will come. I need a hospital. Agony tears through me. I’m hot and burning up. ‘My baby, I want my baby.’ Maybe the woman has come to help me.

She kneels and I see tears in her eyes, but I don’t see my baby.

‘Who are you?’ I just about manage to ask. ‘Are you here to help me?’

The woman nods. ‘I’m Elissa. I’m going to help you escape this hell you’ve been living in. It happened to me, too.’

I’m so confused, but at the same time I’m happy. I need her to get me out of here and take me and Luna to a hospital. Without help, I will lose too much blood and die. She pulls a phone out and she’s sending a message. Help is on its way.

I lie back, relief flooding through me while wondering why her tears are bouncing off my cheeks.

Just as I feel secure that I’m about to be saved, a pillow is thrust over my face. Panicking, I try to hit out, but my weak limbs are no match for her strong body. She presses it hard and I fight for what seems like forever, but nothing gets that pillow off me.

It’s no good. I want to keep fighting, but I have nothing left. I only hope she doesn’t hurt my baby. I feel her hot breath say something in my ear. As the world goes black, those words stay with me.

‘You’re free from it all now. This life isn’t worth it. You don’t have to suffer any more. I saved you.’