Again, again, and again.
I can't breathe.
Can't scream.
Can only curl into myself and pray for it to stop.
"Pretty ring. Too bad you won't get to wear it much longer."
He grabs my hand.
Yanks the ring from my finger.
"No—please?—"
"This is the last warning."
His face looms over me.
Twisted.
Cruel.
"Keep out of our business or else."
Then the knife is coming toward my face and I'm screaming, screaming, screaming?—
"Ingrid! Ingrid, wake up!"
My eyes fly open.
Darkness.
But different darkness.
Softer.
Safer.
Gunnar's face above me, his hands on my shoulders, his voice cutting through the terror.
"You're okay. You're safe. It was a dream. Just a dream."
I'm shaking.
Drenched in sweat.
My heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my broken ribs.
"He was—I was back there—the knife?—"
"I know. I know, baby. But you're here now. You're with me. You're safe."
He pulls me against his chest.
Careful of my injuries.
Always so careful.
