Fourteen Days

This story consists of 200 words only. A challenge

Fourteen days was all it took to rewrite the entire fiction that was her reason for living. On day one she rose and looked at her feet, counted her toes. Looked at his feet. The same number there. Day two she counted fingers and realised an identical match with he who believed he was superior. Day three and four consisted of comparing breaths, counting heartbeats, measuring strides. Days 5 and 6 took in the food they ate. Day 7 the hours they slept. Day 8 and 9 were an analysis of time spent working, bringing home the food. Days 10 and 11 she noted the concessions each made and sacrifices too. Day 12 and 13 she just sat and wondered, and listened to her heart beat, his grumbles, threats and complaints. She watched the birds go about their uncomplicated lives, and remembered times before the comparison started. She remembered the violence, the unspoken fear, her placatory gestures, all unnoticed. She thought of all that she had learnt, all she had done and where she stood right now. He threatened, and cursed and wished her dead. On the fourteenth day he struck her for no good reason she could think of. She fell to the ground, and lay stunned for a moment. But still she did nothing. She dreamt, and thought and a darkness rose up in her then. And then late on the fourteenth night as he lay sleeping, she went to the wood store, picked up the axe, returned to where he slept. She covered him with a thick sheet to stop the mess and hit him with the axe. Again and again till he moved no more.

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