”“People are a bit antsy about you disappearing and there are rumors you’re very sick.”“The rumors of my death, or impending death, are grea...ly exaggerated!”“It might help if you came into the office, but Liz is adamant that can’t happen before a week from Monday.”“How bad is it?” I asked. “Honestly?”“I’d compare it to a low-grade fever.”“I have an idea on how to fix it,” I said. “Or at least bring down the fever. Let me talk to Charlie and Claire when they get here.”About half the attendees. .. it'd beeasier to show you."Grabbing my left hand, Cori led me into her closet and opened the door toone of the cubbies inside. It was the same door she had been so upset aboutme trying to open before. She took out what looked like a pair of thick,white underpants with a butterfly print on the front. "These are calledGoodnites." What are they?" They're sorta like panties, but they help keep you from wetting the bed." You mean ... like a diaper?"For the first time since I'd met her, Cori. A cramped and filthy living room was in the front of the house. As I stood in the larger bedroom my mind recreated what must have gone on in this house of horrors. There was the 21 thread sisal rope tied to the four corners of the king sized bed that filled the room, two chairs were positioned to give a good view of the bed. Closer examination of the padded headboard revealed dark brown splatters that could have been Karen’s blood from the whippings that happened in this room. I made a. As I heard my husband’s footsteps coming closer I said a final prayer for myself knowing that it was useless because God must have forsaken me years ago for this to be my life now. But tonight instead of asking for protection like I always did I asked for something different I asked for it to be over. I asked God to end it. I didn't care how even if it means my husband killing me I just wanted it to be over. My husband slammed open the door and I silently cried. I didn't cry for what was.