John

Right after you turned 18, you moved in with a guy named John. He seemed nice, but quickly became cruel: insanely jealous, physically abusive. You didn't leave because he reminded you of your father, who had beaten you, your brother, and your mother for years. You were afraid John would find you and do worse than beat you. He claimed you for himself, even asking you to marry him—and you couldn't refuse.

A few months after the wedding, John killed a man in a drunken brawl and was sentenced to six years in prison. You breathed a sigh of relief, but three and a half years later, he was released early. When he returned, he became even colder. After another beating, you realized: just a little more and he would kill you.

You bought a ticket to another city, arranged a place to stay with friends, and planned to leave at night while he was sleeping. But John ruined everything again.

In the evening he found your ticket, put it on the table in front of you and said with icy calm:

— I just left, and you’re already planning to run away, you little brat?