Struggle For Control

“Mort, I’m
home!” Alex called happily. “I got
everything done while I was at school today, so I am completely yours for the
weekend.” Alex put her things down on
the kitchen table and expected to see Mort leaning against the doorway - his
hair the unkempt mess she loved and his face adorned with a sweet smile.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> However, when she looked up, he wasn’t
there.

He’s
probably working. Alex walked
through the kitchen, then the living room, but before she could go through the
partially opened door to Mort’s office, she heard Julia crying upstairs.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Something’s not right.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She rushed upstairs to her daughter’s
room and found Julia - her face red from crying for a long period of time.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She frantically reached her arms out for her
mother.

Returning
downstairs, Alex very cautiously pushed open the door to Mort’s office.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Upon her first glance, it appeared
empty. She took a step inside and saw
that Mort’s laptop was on the floor - the screen was shattered.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Before doing anything else, she went back to
the living room and put Julia in her playpen.

“Mommy will
be right back, angel,” she said softly.
Alex went back into the office, the laptop startling her, even though
she already knew it was there. There
was a large wooden desk in the center of the room - it blocked a good portion
of the floor from view. A harsh wave of
nausea hit her as she stepped closer to the desk. “Mort?” her voice was almost inaudible.

Alex saw
the blood before she made her way around the desk. Let me be wrong…please…
She leaned over the desk and screamed.
Mort was in a twisted heap on the floor, blood pooled around his head…

Alex jolted
awake in bed, sweat pouring from her forehead.
She struggled to catch herath ath and immediately began to sob.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> The dream had been plaguing her for two
weeks…