The Price She Paid When Sleeping with

Maria met David at a wedding when she was 25. He was charming, brought her flowers every day, and called her constantly. Her friends said it was too fast, but she thought it was romantic. They married after four months.

The changes started small. David suggested her dress was too revealing. She changed it. He said her friend Marcus made him uncomfortable. She stopped calling Marcus. One by one, he had opinions about all her friends. By their first anniversary, she barely saw anyone.

“That friend doesn’t really care about you,” he’d say. Or, “She’s a bad influence.” Maria wanted to be a good wife, so she listened.

David started calling her at work multiple times a day. If she didn’t answer, he got upset. “Why weren’t you available? Who were you talking to?” She began keeping her phone in her hand constantly.