“911, what’s your emergengy?

“Please help, my ex broke into my apartment!”

“Can you tell me where you live?”

“Lane Street apartments.”

The sound of glass breaking comes from upstairs.

“I live near the Freedom Gym on the second floor, it’s the only apartment complex around. Please hurry!”

“Okay ma’am, I will send someone now. Stay on the line okay ma’am?”

I hear another crash and run up the steps, dropping the phone on my way. I get to my door and see that Eric is on top of Josh. He’s got a knife. I don’t even hesitate before I charge at him. He drops the knife due to the surprise of my assault. I scramble to get it before him, but he gets to me first. He gets on top of me and tries to strangle me. I push my arms through his to try and break his hold. I reach for the broken glass on the floor. I slice his arm and it shocks him enough that he lessens his grasp on me. I push his arms off and reach for the knife. He sees me grab the knife and stands up. Approaching me like I’m some wild animal or something.

“Be smart about this Callie, you don’t want to hurt me.”

“No, I really do Eric.”

“You love me, and I love you. There’s no need for anything or anyone else.”

He casts a disgusted look at Josh who’s still unconscious on the floor. It’s never going to end if he’s still alive. Even if they do arrest him, he’ll find a way out. And then he’ll come after me again, or worse, Josh.

I walk towards him with the knife at my side. I smile and reach up with my other hand to brush his hair back. He smiles back, buying into my act.

“You’re right Eric, I do love you. I was just scared, I know you won’t hurt me.”

I smile up at him and lean in as if I’m about to kiss him. Instead, I thrust the knife in his side.

“That’s for the guy in Virginia.”

I pull up on it.

“That’s for Josh.”

I hear sirens approaching, but I twist the knife and knee him in the groin.

“And that, that’s for me you son of a b***h.”

Eric grunts and falls to the floor. I just stand there, staring at him. I’ve dreamed about doing that, but never thought I would be able to. He had so much power over me.

“Callie.”

I shake my head and go over to Josh. I can’t help but smile. My ex is bleeding out on my floor, so for once I don’t have to be afraid. I look down at his face and try to hold back the tears.

“Why didn’t you leave when you had the chance?” I asked.

“I told you, I really wanted that date.”

I can’t help but laugh at him. He’s an idiot, but at least he’s a cute idiot. The police are starting to show up now. They take in the scene around them.

“Ma’am is there anybody else in the apartment?”

“No sir. It’s just us.”

“Ma’am can you tell me what happened?”

“My ex showed up trying to kill me, so I killed him first.”

I feel Josh squeeze my arm. I know I’m telling the cop I just killed someone, but it was self-defense. They are either going to believe or they won’t; I’m not hiding from this anymore. The cops ask all their questions and seem satisfied that it was self-defense. However, they still need to get my statement down at the station. They start loading Josh into the ambulance, but he tells them to wait just a minute.

“Why didn’t you run when I told you to?”

“It wasn’t your fight, Josh.”

He smiles at me and pulls my head down to him, so our foreheads are touching.

“How about that date now?”