SAMANTHA'S STORY

I looked into the large gilt mirror that was positioned over the ornate stone fireplace, in our immaculate sitting room. As I studied the woman staring back at me I couldn’t believe that this was the same vibrant girl of 10 years ago. I hated what I saw. When had I turned into this harassed and old looking woman.

Shaking my hair free from the tight bun that Henry always insisted on, I thought back to the days when I was carefree and full of life. When I had friends who I would laugh and go out dancing with, when had it all changed?

Picking up the photograph of our wedding, which stood in pride of place on the mantlepiece, I sighed as I studied the young girl who’s eyes shone with happiness and love. Henry looked so dashing in his Officers uniform, he stood as if to attention looking straight ahead and totally ignoring the blissful look that I was bestowing on him.

On that day no-one, especially myself, would have guessed that the man standing next to me in his pristine uniform was not the man that I thought I had fallen in love with, but was in fact a monster.