The Wife Before Me(102)

As these chains of attachment fell away from me, Nicholas’s voice was the last one I heard. His threats and promises: ‘Amelia… Amelia… Bitch. Whore. Liar. I love you… hate you… love you…’til death do us part we are together as one.’

As he chased me along a cliff path that was once familiar to me, his intent was clear. Hate had conquered love, flattened it and smote it into an ugly weal. He stretched out his arms to crush what was immaterial, and I, released from all earthly ties, yet filled with a rapturous certainty, took him with me.