text: “Do you really think you could be happy with me?” I gently put my utensils down, plastic fork on the left, plastic knife on the right, just how he likes it. “I mean here, forever, just you and me.” I struggle swallow today’s slop and say, “Of course Ian, forever and ever just you and me.” He seems pleased with my response. He removes my plate from the concrete floor at which we had been sitting. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better! I’ll be right back with your meds.” I hear him climb the stairs and lock the door behind him. I don’t know why he bothers to lock the door anymore. The chain on my ankle keeps me secure to the wall. After my first escape attempt, the chain was installed. I don’t have too long to wonder, he returns with a box of pill bottles. I don’t fight it anymore. He gives me the pills and I take them willingly. After so long in his basement, I long for the calm, paralyzing, numbness these mystery pills bring. He leaves again, I can smell the apple cinnamon air fresheners he sprays in his house for a split second before he closes the door and I am once again locked in. Soon I will sleep, my only escape. Sleep doesn’t last long. I hear the door open, close and lock. I feel he hit breath on the back of my neck. His grotesque hands groping me. As usual, he can’t preform his manly duties, so I get the metal pipe. It’s cold. It’s hurts. I leave my body and I am home. I see my daughters face. I wonder how long I’ve been gone. Does she miss me? Does she even remember me? I wake up sore down there. Ignoring the pain I begin my usual routine. I rub the chain on my ankle against the concrete for hours. The sound feels like my ears might bleed. Maybe one day he will trust me enough to take the chain off, even though he shouldn’t. I know he’s at work today, it’s Tuesday, so I scream for help until my throat burns. I stare at myself in the mirror. I’m dirty. I don’t know when I last showered. Hair matted, greasy. I would break this mirror if I could only reach. Then maybe I could use a shard of glass to stab him. Then what? He’d be angry and I’d be punished or he’d be dead and I’d still be in his basement chained to a wall for God knows how long. After a while of what if’s and self loathing I finally hear his keys jingle. “Honey, I’m home!” “ Ian, darling! So happy you’re here!” I say trying to sound genuine. “It’s your birthday! I’ve got you a surprise!” Is it my birthday, I must’ve forgot. He pulls out a cheap bottle of wine, take out food, and a box of condom and flowers. “Honey, you’ve outdone yourself!” I force my self to sound excited. He’s sets our table on the floor. We eat the take out. It was heavenly. I take the flowers, smelling them, “Sir, you are a true gentleman. How could I be so lucky.” He puts his arm around me, his cologne nearly gagging me, “I knew you’d realized one day just how much I love you. I did all this for you.” He kisses my neck, revolting. “ I’m so happy my head is finally clear! I know you love me!” I say as to not rock the boat. Then, I see something. A chance. I move slow and while caressing his unkept hair and repulsive chest and stomach. Eventually my hand reaches the wine bottle. It was quick. I hit him in the head, glass and booze everywhere. Unconscious he lied there. I sprung into action. I go through his pockets. The keys!! I quickly unchain my foot and secure it around his. I run upstairs for the first time, locking the door behind me. Apple cinnamon, I love that smell. His house is nice. I didn’t see much of it when I was being drug down to the basement. I have no time to explore. I make my way to the kitchen. My mom made the best spaghetti. I begin working. Combining all my ingredients to create the perfect dish. Under the sink I find exactly what I need, the one ingredient that’s makes the whole dish. I poured all the rat poison into the sauce. I made him a plate, like the good wife he wants would. I exhale sharply before I unlocked the basement. The moldy stench is nauseating, I guess after a while you don’t notice. He screams, “You bitch, you fucking bitch. Let me go! I swear I’ll kill you!” I walk down the stair and see him in the same position I had been. Except he is clothed, not tortured. “Honey, this is all just a misunderstanding. Look, I have a surprise! Spaghetti, your favorite! Eat and then we’ll talk about this all and I will let you go,” I say, trying to sound sincere. He takes his plate and eats it all. “Big man like you needs all his nutrients. None for me, I’m watching my figure like you told me” I smile. We sit and I wait. Then, the spasms and the foaming mouth, cries for help. I almost, no, I do enjoy it. Eventually he’s gone. Gone. Gone and I am free. “Surprise, Ian,” I laugh. I walk up the steps to the main house and walk out the front doors he carries me through so long ago. Free. ﻿There is a faint smile on my face. I will remember that smile. I was happy. Not happy he was dead, but happy to finally breathe air. Once I was through the doors, I can see nothing but darkness. Then I realize, I don’t know where I am. The other side is an area I have never seen before. There is an older woman taking out her trash across the street. “Help! Help me Please! My name is Sarah Willard and I was kidnapped by Ian Matthews .