Elaine had spent a week engrossed in the captivating world of books. From thrilling mysteries to non-fiction, she had explored so many genre. But as her due date approached, she knew it was time return the books to the library. The books had been a companion for her both day and night helping her to forget about a man named Richard, who could climb into her mind at will.Taking a shower and picking up a simple blue dress and then tied her hair into a ponytail, she stood in front of the mirror to access herself. She looked casual as she had expected herself to so she nodded her head in confirmation ready to go.She picked up each book and stuffed them into a canvas bag.With a canvas bag slung over her shoulder, Elaine stepped through the library's grand entrance. The familiar scent of aged pages and polished wood greeted her, invoking a sense of calmness that only a library could offer.As she made her way to the desk, Elaine couldn't help but admire the library's well-organized arran

The next morning, a firm but steady knock on the door woke Elaine up. Dressed in her pajamas, she opened the door to find Richard standing in front of her.Attempting to slam the door in his face but he was hasty enough to put his right leg in blocking her actions.“Elaine” he said softly.“I don't want to talk to you, I don't ever want to see you again” she replied.“You need to come back home with me” he said.“What?” she asked thinking she must have heard him wrong. How dare he come to her house so early in the morning to demand she go home with him.“I can't have you staying here, you need to stay with me” he made his way into the house without permission. Richard was all dressed up in a white shirt and grey trousers, his tie was a bit messy like he had tried to drag it off forcefulky from his neck.“Are you listening to the trash coming out of your mouth, who the hell do you think you are to tell me to do that?And why the hell would I even listen to you of all people?” she said

Cassandra visited Elaine for the weekend when she heard the best news she has ever heard. ‘A dinner date’ this was something she was eagerly waiting for her to do to after starting her new life.As they sat together in Elaine's cozy living room, Cassandra couldn't help but feel a sense of joy for her friend. She knew that Elaine deserved every bit of happiness that awaited her.Cassandra said with a warm smile, "I can't take this any longer. Tell me all about this special dinner date of yours?."Elaine gave her lips a little squeeze before she began to recount the details. "Well, we met at the library, I kinda bumped into him and we got into a heated argument. Trust me, he is a workload, I got so mad at him that I kicked him in the balls and ran away but he eventually caught me and now I have to do what he says” she narrated.Cassandra was utterly confused, her jaw dropped in shock from what she had just heard.“You are telling me that you argued with a man and hit him in the balls

Richard stood outside Elaine's apartment, confusion and frustration resting within him. His little belongings, neatly packed into boxes, were sitting outside, abandoned and alone.His face twisted into a complete frown as he started at the door he had gotten so familiar with the past couple of weeks.“Elaine” he yelled in anger of being kicked out like he was rubbish.“Elaine, open this door, this instant” he demanded banging on the door like a raging bull.Elaine, hearing the sound of Richard's fist on the door, hesitated for a moment before deciding to face the inevitable confrontation. She took a deep breath and opened the door, her eyes guarded but firm. Richard's gaze met hers, trying to instill fear in her but it was abortive."Elaine, what is the meaning of this?" Richard demanded, his voice tinged with anger. "How can you just throw my things out like this?” he questioned.“I let you spend the night here but that doesn't mean you are going to continue crashing at my place” sh

Richard stood at the top of the staircase, his hand gripping the railing tightly. The basement room, a space that has been hidden from his family for years and was shown to him by his father beckoned him forward. With a deep breath, he descended the stairs, the dim light flickering overhead.As he reached the bottom, the room unfolded before him. It was a shrine to his beloved wife, Elaine. The walls were adorned with countless photographs of her smiling, laughing, cooking and sleeping. Each frame was beautifully placed. The room was a sanctuary, a place where Richard could retreat and bask in the warmth of Elaine's memory.But tonight, as Richard glanced around the room, his eyes were drawn to something else. A large screen mounted on the wall displayed the live feed from the CCTV cameras installed throughout his house. He had installed the system years ago as a security measure and now it was time to use it.His mind darkened as he watched the video playback, his anger mounting with