“You’re beautiful, sweetheart.” He laughed as he lifted my chin. “Of course… beauty is only skin deep. You’re a horrible person; you know that most of all. Don’t you?” My response was blocked by cold steel. My trembling affected my ability to speak, so I didn’t. He continued his monologue. “What a terrible person… To think that my child carries your DNA!” He cackled, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. I watched it morbidly. “Your daughter shared your vanity. She left, and she didn’t even sign the divorce papers! Legally, I’m stuck with her. I can’t even remarry to my beloved Sadie!”
He pulled on the loose skin on my face. “Your beauty’s fading! What are you doing to do now? You old hag! How dare you raise my wife to be such a vain bitch? I’ve had nothing but trouble because of you!” The steel on my throat left, and I heard a clang as it fell to the floor. It was replaced with bony hands, and I quickly gasped in a breath before it was too late. I clawed at my throat desperately, but His grip only tightened. “How does it feel to know that you’re going to die? I’m going to strangle you to death. Or would you prefer decapitation? I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!”
He threw me, and my world span as my head hit the steel wall of my husband’s warehouse. I narrowly missed the just-out-of-construction chainsaw, but I could still feel a warm trickle on the top of my head. I did not lift my hand to investigate, fearing what I would find. I passed it off as spilled oil, not wanting to think of the more organic liquid it could be.
“I think we’ll play a bit more. An old hag like you must miss her youth, after all. I have an idea! It’s a very fun game! I’ll cut off your limbs one by one, and we’ll see how long you can stay conscious!” He cackled louder, and I held my limbs as close to my body as possible. He recklessly grabbed a chainsaw from the table next to him, and it fell to the floor. He was skinny and weak, and the chainsaw was above what he normally lifted. I was weak, too, though. He had a gun, and though His aim was a bit off, I feared what He could do with a weapon.
I scrambled away, hoping for a quick escape. The moment I got up, however, my limbs failed me. Sixty years of age did nothing to cure my severe arthritis. “Don’t you dare leave! The bed your husband is sleeping on is a ticking bomb! If you don’t die, he does!” That was enough to make me curl up, covering my nose and mouth to hide my sobs.
“Don’t hurt him…”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart. You will be enough for now.” The chainsaw revved, and my heart skipped several beats. I could only see His silhouette, which only added to my fear. I crawled into the light, and He followed. I regretted it. I could now see more than His silhouette, but contrary to my earlier belief, that did nothing to calm my fear. The chainsaw, revving at his side, made the scene feel like something out of a horror movie.
I saw a scrap of paper fall from His pocket, and I scrambled to catch it. It was a picture of the object his affections: His girlfriend, Sadie. Sadie had long been deceased, but He had lost much of His sanity, and death did not matter to Him. I held the photo before Him, preparing to rip it. “Let me go or I’ll tear the picture!”
His face twisted in morbid horror. “No! My Sadie!” He pushed me over, grabbing at the photo. He cooed at it gently. “Don’t worry, Sadie. I have you.” I had to hold back from barfing as he rolled on the floor, slobbering and kissing the ragged photo. I surpassed the urge, trying to lift the abandoned chainsaw with my frail arms. It was hard, but I managed. I lifted the weapon over my assailant’s neck, squeezing my eyes shut.

I dropped the saw, and I was safe.