Day 7

He was her special boy, her darling boy. She ran her fingers through his fine, sandy hair and watched it fall back perfectly in place as it always did. No one would ever love him the way she did. No one would appreciate that smooth, flawless skin. Those bright, shiny blue eyes. Like glass. No. No one could ever know him the way she did.

          ‘Don’t worry, darling,’ she whispered. ‘I won’t let anyone take you away from me.’

          She straightened his small body on the bed. Smoothed the creases of his shirt and retied the laces of his shoes. He was so handsome, her precious boy. Just like his father.

          Franny! Franny, open this door!

          Irritation flickered across her features, but she pushed it away. Only smiles and happy faces were good enough for her little man. She hated that name, though. He knew she hated it. He was always doing little things like that, trying to undermine her. Why she had ever thought she could live with a man like that… He was nothing like Edward’s father.

          ‘Your father was one in a million,’ she said, rocking slowly in the chair beside Edward’s bed. ‘So smart and strong. A good man.’ She sighed and fondled the locket around her neck. If only things had been just a little different. Then she wouldn’t have to put up with That Man and his Filth.

          The way he looked at her.

          The way he touched her.

          It was horrifying. She’d had to lock herself in the bathroom on their wedding night just to get away from him, and there he was, pounding on the bathroom door, telling her to come back out.

          That Man was always pounding on doors.

          Franny, just be reasonable and let’s talk about this. Franny!

          If only he would just leave her alone with her Edward for a moment so she could have some peace… Even her Magic Pills weren’t enough to block him out anymore.

          ‘It’s alright, darling,’ she murmured, patting the stiff hand on the bed. ‘He can’t do anything to us in here.’

          He was so perfect, her Edward. The other mothers were all jealous. She saw their looks when she went out with Edward. Averting their eyes and whispering to each other. The way their children would point and stare. Some people just had no manners.

          Franny, please. Just open the door. I’m trying to help you.

          Well, that was fine. She didn’t need them, and neither did Edward. They didn’t need anyone but each other. She smiled as she settled back in the chair and began to hum. He would stay with her forever.