Time

I hardly slept that night. I had taken a cab home and fell onto my bed fully dressed. I padded to the bathroom and plunged my hands and face into the icy-cold tap water. Memory of the night before lingered with the stale smell of Richard’s cologne on my skin. Before stripping out of my T-shirt and jeans to shower his scent off me, I looked in the mirror. Red marks and striations from the tight ropes had already faded.

Atonement. Forgiveness. The experience had relieved me of my angst. I looked at my reflection and took a big gulp of air. Like swimming to the surface after plunging into the dark water at Lake Havasu.

I dressed in black clothing that fit my defiant mood, a black pencil skirt and a shirt with a starched, severe pointed collar. Today in court I hoped to slaughter the prosecuting attorney. I was angry with Richard and angry with myself for falling for him. I went to the kitchen counter to boil water in my kettle for coffee. I stared at the bubbling liquid until the kettle