Frozen

Olivia knew from the jump all those years ago that her now husband, only proposed because of her money. She knew it was not her gorgeous looks, or her personality that got him, or would keep him.

Rock was the original "James Dean" with dark skin. An "oxymoron". Heavy on the moron. Olivia knew she had made a mistake in allowing this con artist to manipulate her heart. It had been 15 years of a wrong decision. 15 years of not knowing who this man really was. 15 years of Olivia fitting the bill for everything. 15 years of cooking, cleaning, and having a bum breadcrumb her while he went into society, spewing words of hate about her, to every man and woman he wanted favor with.

Rock was a "impeccable liar." One of the best. He would do things to Olivia on a daily basis just to remind her that he "had her, where he wanted her"; down and out---and not believing in herself. Olivia knew in her mind it was "ironical" for her to feel this way knowing she had it "going on".

However, in 15 years he had trained her to just grin and bear it. To take, the bitter; with no sweet. Rock knew Olivia could have any man she wanted, but it amused him that she did not realize this as fact, even if it wasn't. I mean, if you don't know it, people were going to pretend they didn't know either.

Olivia had wanted to build a foundation with this loser. To this day, she does not know why. She, at one time marveled that if maybe, just maybe, if she showed him the love, she wanted for herself, he would be nice to her. For once. Honor her, for once. Trust and respect her for once! Be loyal to her instead of the streets, for once.

Rock never kept a job for too long. Though he had a master's degree, his motto had always been made clear to Olivia: Work smarter, not harder. He was smarter and she worked harder.

Olivia knew Rock loved strippers and gambling. So, she tried to be a good sport. She did casino nights for him and his friends every Friday night. Rock had ordered a whole set up. She even wore a casino styled- costume as she pranced around; almost "butt naked" in the scantily covered uniform. Once Olivia discovered his likes for exotic dancers, she put a pole in the "Man Cave." She had no rhythm, but started taking dance classes because he liked to see naked trim on Saturdays. Olivia secretly enjoyed dancing for Rock, but she knew he was the wrong audience. " You dance like a white girl." Rock would always laugh and say. And still, he hated her. He wanted to BE her.

You see Rock, was a thug. Some might even say...what's the word:

"A street punk."

"An educated derelict."

"A nefarious individual."

"A straight up, honorable, sociopath."

She listened to the music he liked. She watched the movies he liked. She wore the clothes he liked. Ate the food he liked. Used the products he liked. She did all the things he liked! Rock didn't give a damn about what she wanted. He thought she was weak, because she never told him no. Olivia was just his "rich dummy". Out of all the things she did the most that he liked, was listened to his bull.

Year 15 was coming to an end. It was Mid December. It had been snowing heavily on the nights prior to the night, she took her life back.

As Olivia stood in the kitchen, staring out the bay window, she began to be grateful for her inheritance. Her neighborhood looked so elegant with snow on the rooftops. A feeling of tranquility came over her, as she watched smoke coming out her neighbors' chimney.

Olivia watched calmly. She didn't know how she was going to explain this. How was she going to justify this situation, when it thawed out? Olivia's attention then shifted to the frozen pond, about 100 feet away from where she stood as she sipped coffee and thought about her next move.

Olivia didn't think he would actually choke her when she confronted him that night. She had been watching her bank statements and saw Rock had been living it up on her expense. He was doing a lot of unquestionable things, that he could not explain because the "proof was definitely in the pudding".

An excessive amount of purchases were made under her name. Numerous lines of print gave her his exact locations; revealing all the money he was blowing, and it wasn't even with her, either. "How dare he do that to me? " Olivia thought.

She needed to make some calls, but wanted to make sure she called the right person for the job. She did not want to be on the next episode of the "First 48" or "Snapped."

All Olivia knew, is that she tried to get away that night, but he had chased her out to that pond. She still didn't know why she ran out there. It was cold and snowy. What had she been thinking? Rock forcefully grabbed her by her shoulders and spun her around so she could look right at him. Olivia could feel it in the air.

She was about to have to fight for her life.

When Olivia faced Rock, she could finally see all the hate he truly had inside for him. As he grabbed harder on her shoulders and shook with the fury of removing something from her, she had used her hands to grab a pocketknife. He then yelled out that old, cliche', stalker, saying, "If I can't have you, no one can!"

Rock then wrapped his hands around her neck and began to squeeze. Olivia tried to scream, but it had proven to be impossible. All she could do is hope she would live through this moment.

As Rock choked Olivia, a rush of clarity came to him, making him realize what he was doing. As soon as Rock let her go, she had stabbed him. More than once, to make sure he didn't come after her. Three times, to be exact.

Rock had been taken by surprise. He didn't think his sweet Olivia had it in her. He had never seen her hurt a fly, let alone have a fight. She was his "pretty doormat", and she deserved everything he had done to her. Who did she think she was!?

Olivia didn't look back after she stabbed him. She just took off running, through the snow, back to the house. She admitted to herself that she wanted to hurt him, but deep down, she didn't want him dead.

Rock was not like the "others". Things had been wonderful in the very beginning. But once they said, " I do" is when she finally saw his aura. Rock was a bloody wolf, and Olivia had been his prey.

You see, Rock was simply:

"An energy- sucking vampire."

"A handsome goon."

"A gotdamn male Succubus."

It had been extremely cold that particular evening. So, cold that you could see your breath. So, Olivia was not surprised to see that the pond had frozen up the next day.

She walked out, coffee mug in tow, to go back and look at the scene of the crime. This is where it all took place. Right here, at this frozen pond. However, when Olivia got to the pond, she noticed that Rock had fallen in the night before. His face and body were suspended in time. So, how cold was cold? Apparently, it was "ice cold"!

And the reason she knew that, is because she was looking right at him. Suspended in time. Frozen; like gotdamn "Frosty the Snowman."

How was she going to explain that she had a temporary break from insanity again and decided to "shank" him like a common thug during a confrontation in the prison yard? Olivia did not want to go to any type of a place that provided confinement, I.E. "the penitentiary."

She had to report him missing, or it will arouse suspicion.

The cold would not last always. But right now, at that moment, she absolutely adored her peace. She relished in it. Eventually, someone was going to notice his absence. Her nosey ass neighbors would start asking questions. They would all notice his awkward disappearance. Especially if one of them, caught wind of an argument heard off in the distance.

However, Olivia, just new things, would be fine. You see, things always went fine when you had hush money. See, because if you had money, you could buy your way, your guilty self, out of anything. Even murder; even death.

Olivia decided, she wanted her life back.

So, she sipped her coffee, staring at the pond; a silent bond made between her, and the water that day. They made a pact to never tell what really happened. The secret would be frozen; put to a stop, forever.

Her and that frozen pond were solidified as partners, for life.

She had lucked out when she had hit that main artery. Olivia didn't want him dead really, but due to current events, it appeared that the universe did.

All she had to do is say it was an accident, but she was not a good liar. And Rock, well, he was the handsomest liar ever. "Cold as ice, like Rick James bitch." So, this had to be good. She had do him right.

It wasn't so much about the infidelity. More than anything, it was about the money. As the old folks would say, " Playing with my money, is like playing with my emotions."

Olivia had heard the rumors about Rock; how he was cheating on her with every broad in town. She also knew that Rock had bragged about his "Rich dummy", and how he didn't have to lift a finger because she would do whatever he said.

Old sonofabitch.

Olivia wished things had ended differently between her and Rock. But, in the end, he did not know Olivia like he thought he did. Incidents like this had happened to her before with people, trying to steal or take her money. This would not be the first time she, for the lack of a better term, had "wacked" someone. She buried a guy once.

There had been other men, and sometimes women that she realized she could not trust. She could count them on her hand, recalling each incident. People always took Olivia's kindness for weakness, and Rock was no exception.

Olivia could have easily told the truth.

And what was the truth?

She could have called the police and told them Rock had choked her out; that she had no choice but to defend herself. She could have simply told the truth: That Rock had cheated the whole marriage. That he was living off her money, and laughing in her face, and behind her back, while he did it.

She could have very well told the truth; that she had stabbed him and took off running. But, Olivia knew damn well, that this truth, would not set her free.

So, Olivia decided she was going to enjoy that cup of coffee, no matter what. This was her moment! It didn't matter if "12" showed up; or if her neighbors didn't like her and said they knew she was a serial killer from the start.

Olivia had only been a killer when she had to.

She was content with it all.

She was free.

Olivia went back into the house and took a deep breath. She picked up the phone, ready to give the performance of a lifetime!

"Hello police? This is Olivia Winters. I'd like to file a missing person's report. My husband didn't come home last night. I am afraid something has happened to him."

Olivia sipped the last of the coffee in her mug after hanging up with the police. Olivia exhaled. "Damn, that coffee was good. Let's get another one."