"I swear on my life that has never happened, Husband! I have never been with another, nor have I had intentions on another!" My back is against the wall. There was nowhere else to go. My husband stood between me and the exit. It would not help. Even if I escaped his wrath today, I would return, the dutiful wife. I would not besmirch my family name. I had taken my vows in earnest. My husband had needs beyond my capacity, but I would ever hold myself true to my commitment.

"You swear on your LIFE?! Then you shall PAY with your life!" My husband holds my throat with his work-hardened hands, the calluses from hours of work at the forge scratch my delicate skin. My head and shoulders are pressed against the wall and the breath of life cannot reach my lungs.

Not satisfied with my position, my husband throws me on the floor at the base of the stairs. He lifts my skirts and takes liberties with my body as he resumes squeezing my throat. At his climax, I feel and hear a loud snap in my neck, right under my skull. I am suddenly floating above my body, looking down at the scene. I was in complete disarray, while my husband looked pleased with himself.

My husband laughs and nudges me to wake me. At the continued glassy stare, he laughs and goes to wash himself. While he is gone, a boy that works for us, sees me in my disheveled state and raises an alarm. With confirmation that I had expired, my husband sends the boy to fetch the doctor.

When the boy leaves, Husband lifts my body to carry me to my bed. My head flops awkwardly. It takes time for Husband to wash me and change me into a high necked dress, one of several I had made to hide bruises previously inflicted.

Husband hovers until the doctor pronounces me dead. The doctor is rushed out of the house and my body is interred quickly.

I visit my mother in her dreams to express my grief in not bearing her grandchildren. When she asks how he killed me, I show her my broken neck. She is bereft. She suspected that this would happen. She warned me, asked me not to marry the blacksmith. What could I do? I loved him.

He was found guilty and hanged. He had confessed that he had killed his previous wife and wished to kill more women. It was then that I realized that genteel women, such as myself, should not have to suffer at the hands of those who love them. True love is compassionate and life affirming, not life stealing.