Hi, I'm not giving up my other story, but an idea came to me and I thought I should write it down. I don't know if this is a good one. If you want, tell me what you think.

I should have seen the signs, I knew I should have. There were plenty articles in women's magazines about how to recognize if your boyfriend is super jealous and possessive. I've read them, but I had always thought things like this can't happen to me. The idea I might date some guy one day and he will turn out to be like this, seemed unreal. Another of the things you keep telling yourself, that simply can't happen to you. You are smart, intuitive , you wouldn't let every guy near you. Then how did this with James ended like this? I should had seen the signs, but I couldn't. Maybe I was too in love, or he was hiding too well. But the man became my worst nightmare. I wish sometimes for men to have written on their forehead if they were good, if they would hit you, or become obsessed with you. It would make every woman's life much more easier. Especially mine.

Now I am 23 years old, but sometimes I feel like a 20 years older. My name is Elizabeth Daniels, living on my own and working in a hotel as a receptionist, something I enjoyed doing. Watching how couples with children come to stay, how much in love some of them were, it made me smile. So there were people lucky in love after all. I was single, but I didn't want a man near me. My colleagues tell me I was beautiful, and a good person, some man will be very happy to have me. I only smiled. Maybe I was beautiful, I couldn't say. My natural hair color is brown, as the same as my eyes. I had recently dyed my hair back to it, after I had been red-haired for a while. It was weird being back to my old self, after so long time . But I had wanted a change and the hair was the first thing I had changed in me. I had cut it short and dyed it, but now it was about my shoulder's length. Like I had looked before two years. Two years since my hell, the man I loved , was sent to jail after killing one of my coworkers .

In fact James had been normal at first, the guy you won't ever imagine to do the things he would do later. James was the type of a man, I wanted. I met him one day at the store. I had been doing my groceries, and I had bumped into him, simple as that. He was tall, with short brown hair, blue eyes and the most handsome guy I had ever seen. We had exchanged a few words, our phone numbers and I had walked out of the store with a smile. I was hoping he might call me, but a guy looking like that probably had a girlfriend and wanted only to use me . So when James had really called me, I hesitated to go out with him, I didn't want to be in an affair. But I did go out with him, and he was a complete gentleman, never approaching the subject of sex, or making inappropriate comments. James had given me flowers, and I really enjoyed talking with him. He was single, 5 years older than me, and worked as a real estate agent. I thought it wouldn't hurt if we go out again, and one date had led to another, and another, and before I knew it I was in love and in a relationship with James . I couldn't believe my luck- my boyfriend was sweet, didn't drink or get aggressive, I thought I had found maybe the guy I had imagined. I had always wanted a normal guy, who is stable, kind, and treats me well. James seemed like a dream- good looking, caring and all. But maybe everything was too good to be true and I had somehow attracted the wrong guy. But with what, I still don't know.

The change in my boyfriend was so sudden, that I still don't know if I could have foresaw it. James often picked me up from the hotel after my night shift, or when he could. But suddenly he came to drive me to work every day. I thought it was nothing, although I could had walked or taken the bus.

'' I'm afraid for you.''-He had told me once, when I had said that day I could take the bus, he didn't have to drive me every day. –'' The streets are dangerous for a woman, especially someone as beautiful as you. I fear for you, Lizzie.''- How stupid I had been right then to not say anything ?! I should have done something, but I was too deeply in love with him to think James does this because of other reasons. But things escalated when sometimes after work, I wanted to drink coffee with my coworkers, friends or just go shopping or walk around the town. My boyfriend hadn't liked this, and we had huge fights about it.

'' I'm not seeing anyone else, James! I just wanted to have a cup of coffee with Andrea!''- My boyfriend that day had rang my phone several times , asking where I was. He even showed up at the café to make certain I really was with my friend . I had been so embarrassed and angry, and I had kicked James out of my flat. We weren't living together still, just spending some nights and days in the both places. James had been ringing me for days, leaving voicemails, begging me to hear him out. I had been so angry and scared. It wasn't the first time my boyfriend had showed to a place to make sure I was really with who I'm saying I was. He wasn't like this before, I don't know still what made him change like this. Or James had always been so jealous and I had been so stupid to figure out. Maybe the fault was in me.

One day I went on a lunch with James. My things were still in his flat, and I needed them. I had decided to end our relationship, I didn't wanted this.

'' So you have found someone? Who is he?''- James had been holding my hand so tight, and I was shocked to see how cold his blue eyes had become.-'' You have replaced me, Lizzie.''

'' No, I just don't want a relationship like this. I will need my things back. And please, stop calling me at nights.''- When had my love for his man turned into a pure fear? Where had the caring man, who made me breakfast and bed and loved me tenderly disappeared into? James still looked the same, but my heart for him had begun to get colder.

'' I want you back, Lizzie. Forgive me, my sweet.''- But I had only stood up and threw some money to pay for my part of the bill, I had barely touched the food.

'' This was a mistake.''- I had ran out from the restaurant, not daring to look back at the guy, who was scaring me.

But James hadn't stopped. My phone was full with his texts or voice mails. He kept calling me late at nights, although I was on work, and it wasn't appropriate. I couldn't sleep at nights well. I had become distracted at work, sometimes a tourist had to repeat himself so I could do my job. James had sent me even letters, which I never opened and bouquets. There had been flowers or a box of chocolates almost every day at work. He had even bought me a pair of shoes and asked my coworker to hand them to me. I had called James to ask him to stop this, before I go to the police.

'' You are mine, Lizzie. ''- I had slid down the wall and started crying, after I hung up the phone after one hard conversation with my boyfriend. I had changed my phone number three times. I had seen his car parked outside the hotel, or James to smoke a cigarette, leaned on the building opposite mine, just looking at my window. I had become paranoid, and looked over my shoulder often. My father came with me to the police and I got a restraining order. I hadn't known it would do me any good. I had been to the police before to tell that my boyfriend was stalking me and the officers had questioned James and even locked him for the night. He had been waiting for me in one shop and I had just bumping into him when I had exited the changing room. James had caused a scene, by dragging me out of the store and this was when I had firstly gone to the police.

My parents never left my side, and I often stayed at their place. Things got darker when one night, James entered the hotel and threatened everyone inside with a gun, demanding I should go with him. I had hit the panic button, the security of the hotel had rushed to restrain my ex, but he shot one of the guards and wounded one of my coworkers. Jenny had died from the wound later at the hospital. James was arrested and put on a trial. I didn't want to justify and meeting him again, but I had to. My father had been with me the whole time, my mother hadn't let go of my hand. I still don't know how I met James's eyes and retold everything . I still shake with fear, remembering his face. My nightmare was sentenced to spend 20 years in jail and I felt I could breathe freely again. James will rot in jail and I was free.

I moved out of my hometown and rented a flat and found myself a new job. A fresh start. I still visited my parents, friends, but the memories were still fresh and painful. I hadn't dated a guy in two years, I was afraid to let anyone near me. I had a new phone number, new job, new flat, new life. Men were scaring me now. What if the next one turns out to be like James?

Now I finished my shift, the hotel was full. I had dealt with one angry old couple, who couldn't turn on their TV , but despite everything I was happy. It was been two years since I had seen James. I had thrown all of his presents, our pictures. He wasn't ever going to hurt me again.

I said goodbye to my coworker Tara, and picked up my phone, it was ringing. I walked to the bus stop, thinking what would I make myself for dinner.

'' Hi, mom! How are you?''- I promised to visit them this weekend.

'' Sweetheart, I have to tell you something. James…he has escaped this afternoon.''