"I w-was resting, like you told me to," Lena offered, vainly hoping Marie would be convinced.

The blow came swiftly across her right cheek, and Lena felt like her cheekbone had been shattered. Marie had never slapped her before, and hadn't even spanked her as a child. Lena began to cry again not because of the pain in her face, but because she knew of how much she had hurt Marie.

"You...lie," Marie said coldly. Lena reached out to Marie, but the woman stepped back and wrinkled her nose, almost as if in disgust.

"I'm so sorry, Marie," Lena pleaded bashfully. Marie shook her head.

"For years I have loved...