*~Chapter Twelve : Unbending~*
It was late evening when Todd entered the bedroom. He carried a plate of sandwiches in which he placed upon the table. Marty didn't even look up. She wasn't even hungry. She was too sad to eat.
"Supper is served," he said.
Marty said nothing. She was situated in an overstuffed chair, staring out the window. The sun had just set in the horizon. She turned to Todd and looked him in the eye.
"Todd, we need to talk... about what happened between us," she said.
"I'm sorry, Marty," he replied.
"You had no right-," she said, her voice rising.
"I had every right."
"Todd, you tied me to the bed. You did not give me a choice."
"You wanted me... you know that you did."
"That's not the point. It wasn't love. I don't know what that was... but it wasn't love. I know what love is; we had it before. What we have now... I don't know what it is. You need to set me free. You need to..."
Todd just shook his head. He said in a steely voice, "I can't let you go, Marty. Never again."
Out of frustration, Marty let out an anguished cry. When Todd saw her tears, he came forward, lightly caressing her hair. He ran his fingertips over her cheek, tenderly stroking her skin.
With his soft caress, Marty broke down completely. The tears freely traveled down her cheeks.
"Why?" she sobbed. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Because I have nothing if lose you and our little girl. You and Cassandra are everything to me. I busted my ass in prison being "good," and for what? I got out and found that you were with someone else... in his bed! Did you sleep with him, Marty? Did you give him what was mine?!"
Marty stared back at him with her tears frozen upon her face. When she didn't answer, Todd was furious. He grabbed her in a rough grip. He demanded an answer to his question.
"Get your hands off me!" Marty said through clenched teeth. Why did he have to be so unbending?!
"Not until you answer my question!" Todd insisted. "Did you sleep with Pony-Tail? DID YOU?!"