Run Away From Him “Oh, hi there, mate!” Natasha sat down on the seat next to Liza. “Long time no see. How’s life?” “Hey, Nat,” the girl replied, a little distant. “Everything’s great.” “Then why are you avoiding my gaze?” Natasha studied her friend. “Did Roman pull another stunt? What’s he up to this time?” “Oh, stop with the drama,” Liza rolled her eyes, already regretting stepping into this café. “Everything is fine. Roman and I have a perfect relationship. He’s a good bloke, honestly. Now, can we drop it?” Not waiting to hear Natasha’s indignation, Liza left, abandoning her half-eaten slice of Victoria sponge. She didn’t want to hear anyone’s opinion, convinced they were just jealous. Roman was…well, perfect. Handsome, well-off, attentive. Albeit with some odd demands now and then. Like the time he banned Liza from dyeing her hair blonde. That was the first time they properly argued – close to breaking up, all over some silly detail! Liza had popped into her usual salon. Her stylist, a trusted friend, always said she was born to be blonde, and this time, she went for it. She walked home with platinum curls. Roman turned white with rage. A book – the one he’d been reading on the sofa – went flying. Hurtful words and an ultimatum: dye it back. Immediately. He wasn’t going to have a blonde in his house. Liza, swallowing tears, sprinted to the nearest salon. They tried to talk her out of it – the blonde really suited her. But when she burst into tears, they did as she asked. Roman only nodded, satisfied, saying nothing. The next day, he gifted her an expensive bracelet “to make up for things.” And Liza wasn’t allowed to wear white. Red, blue, green – anything but white. She asked, jokingly, what colour dress she’d wear for their wedding, but Roman gave her such a strange look she never asked again. “Run away from him!” Natasha once pleaded. “Just go, don’t look back. Today it’s ‘don’t wear white.’ What’ll it be tomorrow? Not allowed to leave the house? No matter how ‘nice’ he seems, you deserve better. Someone normal.” “Everyone’s got their quirks,” Liza shrugged. “We’re serious, Nat. We’re even planning on having a baby. Roman really wants a girl. He’s already picked out a name – Angela. And you’re telling me to run.” **************************** She should have listened to her friend. Natasha was right about Roman’s oddities, as Liza soon discovered. There was a room in the house Liza was never allowed in. Always locked. One day, she joked, “Tell me you’re not Bluebeard’s long-lost brother?” “Don’t worry,” Roman smirked, “I’m not storing ex-wives’ bodies in there.” That ended the topic – until a twist of fate let Liza glimpse inside. She came home early from university – last class cancelled. She knew Roman was in, but couldn’t find him anywhere. Passing by the forbidden room, she heard a curious voice. Gently, she pushed the door and peered through the crack. A life-size portrait of a girl covered the wall. Roman knelt before it. The girl in the painting smiled sweetly, arms outstretched. She looked so much like Liza they could’ve been sisters – except the girl was blonde. “Not long now, Angela,” Roman murmured again and again. “Soon, we’ll be together. She’ll give me a daughter – I know she will. And then your soul can be reborn in this new little body. We’ll be together forever. I’ll look after you, and when you’re grown, we’ll love each other again.” “Nutcase!” flashed through Liza’s mind. Terrified, she fled. Natasha had been right, so right! But now what? How does one escape a madman? Worst of all, Liza was pregnant. It was too soon to tell, but still… Her parents lived far away; Natasha was her only close friend. Liza went straight to her. “I never imagined Roman could be like this,” Liza whispered, hands clenched. “If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d never have believed it!” “Calm down,” Natasha handed her a glass of water. Liza drank deeply. “You need to decide what comes next. Are you staying with him?” “Never!” Liza shook her head. “He’s crazy! I’m scared for me and the baby.” She gave a crooked smile. “Now I see why I wasn’t allowed to dye my hair or wear white – I’d look too much like her.” “Lucky you found out before the wedding,” Natasha reasoned. “You haven’t told him about the baby, have you?” “I was saving it as a surprise…” “Perfect. Say you met someone else. Go away with this ‘other bloke.’ Maybe best to go home and transfer uni. Out of his reach.” “Yeah…that’s probably for the best.” **************************** Liza’s next six months were harder than she could have imagined – emotionally more than physically. The move, telling her parents… She dropped out of university because of the pregnancy – no way could she have an abortion; the baby was blameless. It turned out to be a little girl, just as Roman wanted. To their relief, Roman let her go easily. Only one warning – don’t go telling tales. He didn’t even ask where she was moving to, as though he didn’t care. Sometimes Liza worried she’d made a mistake, leaving Roman and keeping silent about the baby. On this night, after putting baby Ella to bed, she stood by the window, lost in thought. The doorbell rang. A delivery – takeaway again. Liza had never learnt to cook. After a quick meal, she sat down with her textbooks to restart her studies. The words blurred. Her head spun… Liza reached for her phone to call an ambulance, but her arms wouldn’t respond. She couldn’t move. Fading out, she saw Roman cradling her newborn in his arms. ******************************* Liza woke in a hospital bed. Her mum had chosen the perfect time to visit. The police searched everywhere for the child – but Roman had vanished without a trace. Only years later did the bereft mother receive a small, cruel “sign” – a photo of Roman holding a beautiful, blonde-haired little girl.

Run Away From Him

Oh, hello, love! said Emily, dropping onto the chair next to Grace. Havent seen you in ages. How are things?

Hi, Em, Grace replied dully, her gaze wandering towards the window. Everythings fine.

Then why wont you look at me? Emily asked, studying her friends face. Has Jack done something again? Whats happened this time?

Oh, dont be so dramatic, Grace groaned, already regretting entering the café. Honestly, everythings great. Jack and I are perfect together. Hes lovely, really. Lets not talk about this, please.

Without waiting for a reply, Grace slid her half-eaten Victoria sponge aside and got up to leave. She refused to listen, foolishly convinced that others were simply jealous.

Jack seemed so perfect. Handsome, well-off, considerate. Admittedly, he sometimes made rather odd demands. For instance, he had forbidden Grace from dyeing her hair blonde.

That had been their first serious argument. They nearly broke up over something so trivial!

Grace had gone to the hairdresser just to get a trim. Her regular stylist had always said she was born to be fair-haired. Grace couldnt resist, and left the salon with pale, platinum curls.

Jack had turned white with fury. He threw the book hed been reading at her, shouted horrible things, and insisted she have her hair coloured back immediately. There was, according to him, no place for a blonde in his home.

Swallowing her tears, Grace ran to the nearest salon. The stylists tried to dissuade herthe colour suited her perfectlybut she wept until they agreed.

All Jack did that evening was nod, seemingly satisfied. In the morning, he presented her with an expensive bracelet as if to make up for his behaviour.

There were other rules: white clothes were off-limits. Red, blue, greenanything but white. Once, half-joking, Grace asked what colour her wedding dress would be, and Jacks strange look made her decide never to ask again.

Run away from him, Emily begged later. Run, and dont look back. Today its no white dresses, but what about tomorrow? No going outside? However kind he may seem, you need someone bettersomeone normal.

Everyones got their quirks, Grace shrugged. Were serious. Were even planning for a baby. Jack wants a daughter, says shell be called Eleanor. And you say I should run.

****************************************

Grace should have listened to her friend. Emily had been right about Jacks oddities, as Grace would soon discover for herself.

There was one room in Jacks house that was always locked. Grace never had the key. One day, she teased, Are you sure youre not Bluebeards long-lost cousin?

Dont worry, Jack replied with a strange smirk, Im not hiding any ex-wives remains in there.

That was the end of ituntil, by chance, Grace managed a peek inside. Her late seminar had been cancelled, so she arrived home earlier than usual. She knew Jack was in, but couldnt find him anywhere. As she passed the forbidden room, she heard a faint voice inside. She gently pushed at the door. Through the narrow gap, she saw something that chilled her to the bone.

A huge painting of a young woman covered the wall, and Jack was kneeling before it.

The girl in the portrait smiled radiantly, arms outstretched as if inviting an embrace. She looked uncannily like Graceonly with blonde hair.

Just wait a little longer, Eleanor. Soon well be together, Jack murmured. Grace recoiled, ready to burst in and confront him, but his next words froze her where she stood.

Shell give birth to a girl, I know she will. Then your soul can live inside her little body. Youll be with me. Forever. Ill look after you, and when you grow up, well love each other again.

Lunatic! the thought flashed through Graces mind. Panic-stricken, she fled. Emily had been rightso right! But what now? How to escape a madman? The worst part was, Grace truly was pregnant. Not that anyone could knownot yet.

Her parents lived far away. Of her friends, only Emily was nearby. Grace went to her at once.

I never imagined Jack could be like this, Grace whispered shakily, fists clenched. If I hadnt seen it myself, Id never have believed it!

Calm down, Emily said, handing her a glass of water, which Grace drank obediently. You have to decide. Will you stay?

Absolutely not! Grace shook her head. Hes mad! Im scared for myself and the baby. She managed a weak smile. Now I understand why I was banned from blonde hair and white clothes. He wanted me to avoid looking like her.

At least you found out before marrying him, Emily said sensibly. He doesnt know about the baby, does he?

I was going to tell him as a surprise

Better that he doesnt know. Say youve met someone else. Move away with him. Emily sighed. Youre better off going home to your parents. Transfer to a local university. Finish your studies far away from him.

I think youre right.

*****************************************

The next six months were gruelling for Gracenot physically, but emotionally. She moved back home, faced countless questions from her parents, and had to leave university because of the baby. She couldnt bring herself to terminate the pregnancy; after all, the child was innocent. In the end, she gave birth to a little girl, just as Jack wanted.

Contrary to what she feared, Jack let Grace go without a fussonly warning her not to broadcast too much. He didnt even ask where she was going, as if he truly didnt care.

Sometimes, late at night, Grace wondered if shed done the right thing, leaving Jack and saying nothing of their child. One evening, after tucking baby Ellie into bed, Grace stood at the window, deep in thought.

The doorbell rang. It was a deliverysome dinner shed ordered, since she never got the hang of cooking. After she ate, she turned to her stack of books; she was determined to resume her studies soon.

But the words on the page swam before her eyes. Dizziness overwhelmed her as she reached for her phone to call emergency services, but her hands wouldnt obey. She couldnt move. Before everything went black, she glimpsed Jack gently cradling their newborn daughter.

***********************************************

Grace awoke in hospital. Her mother had visited at just the right moment.

The police searched, but found no trace of Ellie. Jack had vanished with her as if into thin air.

Years passed with no word, until one day Grace received a small envelope. Inside was a photograph: Jack embraced a beautiful blonde girl, smiling for the camera.

Sometimes, love can blind us to danger. No matter how charming or generous someone seems, true care means giving freedom and respectnot control and fear. If your gut says to run, runand dont look back. Your happiness, and even your safety, may depend on it.