Scarred by love

Roz had survived an attempted murder, but as she recovered in hospital, was she still in danger?

He started with apologies with promises that the affair was over, as of right now. That it would never happen again.

But Roz wasn' t swallowing any of it. And she said so, with fury.

So Eddie changed defence into attack. Fine! If that' s how you feel, then maybe we should end it altogether.'

Roz was shocked. You mean, divorce?'

You clearly don' t want me, so divorce sounds good.'

He said it like she was the guilty one her demands for faithfulness unreasonable.

And that made Roz even angrier. I hate you!'

But did she? Really hate him? Even with all this hostility burning between them, part of her recoiled at the thought of losing him.

Divorce? A life without Eddie?

He had betrayed her. Been with another woman. She had every right to hate him and want him gone.

She wondered if he had already contemplated a life without her? Had he and his lover talked about their plans for the future?

A million other thoughts flooded her head. She was seething and nauseous, scared and confused. Going more than a little crazy.

I want you out of the house!' she said, throwing a pile of his clothes at him.

What?' There was surprise in his voice, like she had called his bluff.

I can' t have you living here. I need some time alone to process what' s happened.'

Fine if that' s what you want.'

No, what I want is¼'

But what did she want?

Her old life back, that' s what. She wanted the life she' d had before Eddie got involved with this other woman this Carla Wilson

a doctor in the liver department at the hospital where he worked in general surgery.

She wanted the life she had before she found out¼

It was earlier that morning.

Eddie was upstairs, getting cleaned up, readying himself to go to the hospital. He was late because he' d been helping their neighbour with her car, which wouldn' t start.

His phone was on the kitchen table and it began to ring.

Eddie! Phone!'

She looked at the display. It was Carla Wilson. There was a picture of her smiling face.

Eddie!'

But she could hear the toilet flushing. He obviously couldn' t hear her, so Roz took the call, not suspecting anything, ready to apologise for her husband' s absence and take a message.

But the woman who spoke sounded first surprised, then flustered, then panicked, and she hung up abruptly. Roz frowned at the odd reaction.

Her frown deepened as terrible thoughts suddenly formed and slotted together.

Carla had called thinking

ÔI want you out of the house! I need some time alone to process what s happenedÕ

Eddie was already at work. She clearly hadn' t expected Roz to answer.

Other things made sense instantly the late nights, the occasional furtive call, the dishevelled look last weekend when he returned home from the pub.

The pub! Was she really that stupid to believe all his lies?

Eddie came downstairs and into the kitchen.

Carla just called,' Roz said. Carla?'

And it was the look on his face, the way he said the woman' s name, that confirmed her suspicions.

What¼ erm, what did she want?'

You. Apparently.'

And that' s how the argument started¼

A week passed after that, in which they led separate lives. He stayed in a hotel, pretending to friends and colleagues that life was going on as normal. They did speak occasionally on the phone, once in person, to discuss routine household matters of bills or mail.

Roz did ask, at one point: Are you still seeing her?'

To which he replied: What do you think?'

It wasn' t a denial. Nor a confirmation. Wasn' t much of an answer either way. But he stormed away before she could press him further.

Reluctantly, Roz began to think that the rift between them was irreparable. The separation was beginning to feel permanent.

Then she almost died¼

Roz knew she was being followed. She could sense it. Knew there was someone behind her as she walked home from the railway station.

She looked round, and there was no one there. But still she knew.

She also knew, as soon as she walked into the alleyway between Beacon Avenue and Springfield Road, that she should have taken the long way round in the open, where windows overlooked her progress every step of the way.

Where she wasn' t in an enclosed space, surrounded by high fences, with hardly enough room to pass another person.

But a few paces more and she would be in the relative safety of Springfield Road.

Just a few paces, paces that were quickening.

She didn' t dare turn round. Turning round would make it real. Turning round would give her pursuer a chance to catch up.

She heard footsteps, fast footsteps, and she broke into a run.

Her next sensation involved a strong and piercing light, a strange smell and pain.

OK, OK, don' t struggle.' It was Eddie' s voice. Soft and soothing.

There was no connection between the alleyway and wherever here was.

She was lying back. The smell was clinical. The light appeared again, blinding her, and she closed her eyes and turned away.

OK, calm down. I' ve stopped.'

Roz tentatively opened her eyes again to see Eddie holding a pen light. He tucked it away in his pocket.

Behind him, a nurse was in the doorway watching.

Can you see me?' he asked. Do you know who I am?'

Of course she knew who he was! She went to say so, but...

No, don' t try to speak.

You' ve got a nasty wound to the neck. You won' t be able to speak for a couple of days, and even then it' ll be difficult. Give me a thumbsup if you understand.' A wound? To her neck?

She tried to speak again, but it was too painful.

She raised her hand, trailing a pulse monitor from her finger and a tube snaking into a vein at her wrist, and touched her neck, feeling the dressing. There was a dressing on her arm too.

Roz? Can you understand me?'

She nodded gently and stuck her thumb up.

You were attacked, Roz,' Eddie said. Do you remember anything about it?'

Did she? She could recall the alleyway and breaking into a run, but she couldn' t find a single image to get her from there to here.

She gently, slowly, shook her head.

Don' t worry about it. It' s probably for the best. I' ve told the police you' re currently off-limits.' He stroked hair from her face. For now, you should rest. OK?'

No, it wasn' t OK. None of this was OK. What had happened to her? Who had attacked her? Why was her neck injured and how serious was it? She stared imploringly at Eddie and mouthed a question. You want to know what happened?'

She nodded.

You were stabbed. Repeatedly. Luckily, your attacker was disturbed. But you lost a lot of blood¼ you almost died.'

Doctor Mayle, do you think that' s wise?' This came from the nurse in the doorway. She was young, but sour-faced, with a brown bob. Her blue scrubs emphasised her muscular figure rather than hiding it. Do I think what' s wise?' Telling her about the attack. It might affect her blood pressure

Roz knew she was being followedÉ Knew there was someone behind her as she walked home