As with any plan that is made up in the heat of the moment there were mistakes. Judging by the questions I had been asked by the cops I counted three in total.

Firstly they wanted to know why if I had woken in the apartment on the bed in only my underwear as I had claimed, why did my dress have blood on it? That was the biggest mistake I had made, I should have taken it off first. I said I didn't know how the dress had got blood on it, I hadn't even known where it was. It was all I could say.

The second thing they questioned me on was why one of the guys from the apartment closest to the one I had been in had said that he heard a loud crash which they presumed was my hitting John with the lamp but he had said it was at least a minute, maybe two before he heard me screaming outside. I said I'd collapsed on the floor crying as I thought I had killed him. They seemed to buy that.

Thirdly they wanted to know why there were handcuffs on the bed and yet I had been able to escape. I said I didn't know, I hadn't been attached to them at any point whilst I was awake. They seemed to buy that too.

The dress though, what a fuck up I'd made there. Luckily that was the only thing that made any part of my story doubtful. I mean it was obvious that I had been abducted and obvious I'd been hit in the face, plus they found the knife next to John. There was no way he wasn't going to jail and it was surely going to be for most of his life, if not all of it. Certainly long enough that he was out of my life now.

I had made a real mess of my head, much more than I had intended. I had seven sutures in the cut and my eye had swollen shut and was already starting to bruise. It would look awful in a day or so. At least I had been told it probably wouldn't leave a permanent scar. They also told me I had to stay at the hospital overnight as a precaution.

It was a small price to pay for what I had achieved. I had also told the cops that John had been trying to get money from me, and that he had been ranting about paying for cancer treatment for his dad. I had decided to say that I would pay for it. That would make me look good in the media.

I lay there wondering where Paul and my dad were. I figured my mom must have decided that she couldn't bring the girls until she had heard I was definitely okay. I wanted to call her and tell her to come, I wanted to see the girls more than anything but I didn't have a phone. It hadn't been found so I guess John must have tossed it out of the car somewhere. I've lost Rocky's number then.

That thought came from nowhere and I realised I didn't know his number. I'd have to call TNA to get to him. That would mean more lies, I mean I couldn't call and use my real name. I'm getting good at telling lies, it comes naturally to me lately.

Why did I keep having thoughts like that? It must be stress again, especially after today. But I don't feel stressed.

I realised that was true and it was strange, I didn't feel stressed or scared, certainly not guilty. The only feelings I had were that my head hurt and I wanted my family.

It was while I was considering how strange that my head started spinning but then my mom walked in with the girls. Someone must have said it was okay to bring them to see me. I felt so much better immediately as the girls jumped on my bed and hugged me.

Aurora was crying, "I don't like you're eye mommy."

I hugged her, "I know baby, a nasty man hit mommy but do you know what?"

"What?"

"Mommy is a brave girl and it will get better soon. Can you be a brave girl and stop crying for me? You'll upset your sisters."

She wiped her eyes, "Okay."

My mom came and sat next to the bed and took my hand. She looked like she had been crying too but she clearly didn't want the girls to see that. "Stephanie, my god your head looks so bad. Did he hurt you anywhere else?"

"No mom I'll be fine, not in front of the girls okay?"

She must have realised I was right, this conversation was for another time and place. Paul and my dad showed up not long after but my head was hurting so much and the medication the nurse had given me was making me tired so I was soon drifting off to sleep.

Today was one hell of a day, but a good one. Where are you sleeping tonight John? You bastard.