Wives

Bethan waited for the woman to respond but she stood, back to her. Bethan was unsure what to do, but eventually, she decided to get up and go over to her rescuer. Gingerly, Bethan rose, her head pounding and her body trembling. Standing, she paused to breathe deeply.

The coat that the stranger had kindly put over her had fallen to the floor. With great care, Bethan leant to get it.

"Here." Hoarsely.

Bethan waited for the woman to turn around, which she did. Bethan held out her coat. "Thank you."

The woman took the coat. She didn't look at Bethan.

Bethan decided to dive right in. "For the coat. And for saving my life." Bethan held out her hand. "Bethan."

There was a moment before a hand was offered back. "Christine."

They shook, tentatively, their faces each mirroring a wan smile.

There was still no response from the figure on the floor.

It was Christine who spoke first. "I haven't checked for a pulse," she said, arm gesturing to Dave. "I'm not sure I want to know."

Bethan shivered. She didn't want to touch him. She thought she could see his body rise and fall but she realised she really didn't care. She said it out loud.

"I don't care if he's alive or dead," Bethan said, matter-of-factly.

The woman looked at her and stated: "He's my husband."

Bethan's face registered her shock but before she had a chance to voice it, Christine added, "He had to be stopped." Bethan was not going to dispute this and went to speak again but was once more beaten. "So, I know who he is, but who the hell are you?"

Christine's voice had a tone; angry, curious, but also suspicious. Rightly so, Bethan thought and she gulped. Frying pan - fire passed fleetingly across her mind.

Her name didn't ring a bell? Dave had never mentioned her. Why would he? Bethan didn't have much time to think and so, she went for the truth. Too many lies already.

"He was my husband too...once," she said.

Bethan suddenly felt very tired as she held Christine's gaze, watching her eyes become moist.

"What? How?" Christine said.

"I'll tell you."

***

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