Fleeing her husband from a remote village, she stumbled into a bear trap and, convinced it was the end, lost consciousness…
When she came to in an unfamiliar room, Emily groaned softly. Her head spun as if shed been struck, and her memory was a voidshe couldnt recall how shed gotten there. Her body ached as though shed been motionless for days, refusing to obey. Struggling to sit up, she realized with horror that she was bound, her wrists and ankles tightly restrained. Panic seized her, and she writhed on the bed, its springs creaking beneath her.
“Finally awake,” came a cold voice. “Dont worry. Youll stay a little longer. Once you understand your mistake, Ill let you go. Then well go home.”
In that moment, Emily remembered everything. She had agreed to divorce her husband, Richard. He had pretended to consentuntil the blow came. He had never intended to let her leave. *”Youre mine,”* hed say. *”If you dont understand that, Ill teach you.”* But Emily could no longer endure his betrayals. She had forgiven the first affair, given him a chance. The second was unforgivable. Love had long faded, leaving only fear and disgust for their toxic marriagea cycle of obsession and loneliness.
“Let me go,” she whispered, trembling. “This changes nothing. You cant force me to love you. Rick, please…”
“Youll accept it. Right now, youre in denial, but youll see were meant to be. Give me a second chance. And where will you run? Remember that abandoned village I told you aboutwhere my grandparents lived? No one comes here. No one will help you. And dont anger meyou know what happens then.”
Emily shuddered. In Richards eyes, she saw madnessand that terrified her most.
A week and a halfmaybe longershe spent in that house. Richard only untied her for a few hours each day, watching her every move like a predator. Emily understood: he wasnt a man but a sick soul needing urgent help. Yet she played along, feigning submission, pretending reconciliation was possibleanything to return to civilization. No one at work would miss her; her boss had wanted her gone ever since Emily caught her with Richard. Her parents were dead, and her friends dismissed her disappearances*”jealous husband,”* theyd sigh, never probing deeper.
One day, when Richard was distracted, she struck him with a heavy figurine. He collapsed, unconscious but breathing. Emily didnt wait to see if hed wake. If he did, shed have no chance. He had vowed theyd stay there forever, and she couldnt live with a man whose rage was a ticking bomb.
Pulling on whatever clothes she found, she fled into the cold. The air burned her lungs, but she ran. Cars, roadsall were distant. She feared Richard would track her footprints, but she had to run. The forest, the distant howl of wolvesit frightened her, but shed rather face wild beasts than a madman.
Exhaustion took over. She didnt know how long shed run or where she was. The thought of freezing or getting lost gnawed at herthen sudden pain, a scream. Her leg was caught in a bear trap. Blood stained the snow. She fell, struggling to free herself, but the jaws wouldnt budge. The pain was unbearable. Darkness crept in.
Thena voice:
“Dont give up now, love…”
She woke again in an unfamiliar place, the scent of herbal tea filling the air as someone coaxed her to drink.
“Where am I?” she whispered, sitting up.
“Awake at last?” came a voice from the doorway.
A man stood therecalm, kind-eyed, wearing a knitted jumper and warm trousers.
“You saved me?”
“You saved yourself. I just helped.”
He introduced himselfWilliam. Hed found her in the trap, carried her home, treated her wounds. Shed been delirious for days. The trap hadnt broken bone, but the gashes were deep. *”You survived. Thats what matters,”* he said.
He lived in his grandfathers old foresters cottage, retreating here to escape the city and remove poachers traps.
“Good thing I turned that man away when he came looking,” he added. “A day after I found you. He was like a beasthunting someone. Dont worry. If he returns, I wont let him in.”
Emily trembled. Richard had been close. But now, she felt safe.
Days passed. She told William everythingthe marriage, the affairs, her escape. He listened quietly. She expected to fear all men after Richard, but with William, she felt peace. He didnt push, demand, or blame. He was simply there.
Ten days later, she could walkthough with a limp. William went to the woods, and she decided to cook dinnerrepaying his kindness.
When he returned, he frowned.
“I told you to rest,” he said, brushing snow off his coat.
“Sorry… I wanted to help. I hate feeling useless.”
His expression softened.
“Fine. If you insist.”
Over the meal, he shared something personal: two years ago, hed lost his fiancée in a crash. Every year, he came here to grieve alone.
“Im so sorry,” Emily said softly. “But life goes on. Shed want you to be happy. After what Richard did, I couldve feared all men. But youre not him. You cant live in a shell of fear forever. You have to move forward.”
William nodded, and together they atesimple stewed potatoes, a bottle of red wine. Later, Emily finally asked: how did he get supplies in this remote place?
“My assistant brings them every fortnight,” he said. “The roads are bad now. Hell come tomorrowand take you back to the city.”
Her heart clenched. Home. Where her pastand Richardwaited. The thought of facing him chilled her. But with William, she felt safe, as though his presence shielded her. Yet she knew: hiding wasnt the answer. She had to finish this.
“Dont be afraid,” William murmured, taking her hand. “Youll be alright. That bastard cant hurt you anymore.”
Emily smiled weakly. His confidence warmed her, but doubt lingered. And sadnesstheir brief, precious time was ending. She knew it was right. Yet her heart ached at the parting.
The next day, his assistant, Thomas, arrivedkind-eyed, gentle. Emily fought tears. Staying here, with William, was tempting. But she couldnt start anew without closing the past. At the door, she hugged William tightly, memorizing his warmth, the scent of wool, his heartbeat. He stiffened, then slowly hugged back, his hands trembling.
“Thank you… Ill miss you,” she whispered.
“Youll be fine,” he said firmlybut sadness flickered in his eyes.
In the car, she watched him in the rearview mirror, standing on the porch. She clenched her hands, resisting the urge to beg Thomas to stop. She wanted to confess she caredbut no. First, she had to end things with Richard. Only then could she look ahead.
Thomas took her straight to the police, as William had asked. She filed a report, told everything. Then he drove her home. William had arranged for supplies to be delivered*”until things settle.”* Emily didnt ask who Thomas really was. She just accepted his help.
Her flat still felt haunted by Richardhis things, his scent. She gathered it all, tossed it on the balcony. She wanted him erased, like a mistake scribbled out. That night, by the window, she thought of William. Regretted not taking his number. But hed said it himselfno signal in the woods.
The next day, the call came. Richard was deadshot resisting arrest. Emily didnt cry. She felt no guilt. Only relief. Hed never stalk or hurt anyone again.
When Thomas returned, she told him.
“Good riddance,” he said. “Yesterday, he came here. But the men William assigned to guard you handled him.”
“Men?”
“He ordered them to protect you. I wont pretend to mourn. The worlds better without him.”
Emily nodded, swallowing hard. Then she asked:
“Take me to William. Next time you gobring me with you.”
Thomas grinned. “Two weeksbefore New Years. I thought youd never ask.”
Her soul yearned for it, even if logic protested. She didnt attend Richards funeral. His mother had known his plans but turned a blind eye. Emily couldnt respect someone who chose a son over justice.
For two weeks, she prepared. Sold Richards gifts to tide her over. Searched for a new joba fresh start.
When the day came, Thomas picked her up.
“What if he turns you away?” he frowned. “Should I wait nearby?”
“No,” Emily said. “
