Chapter 7 - The Broken Lamp
One of the most damaging items in Ethan’s folder was a video.
Eight seconds.
I appeared in our bedroom.
Crying.
Angry.
I grabbed a lamp.
Threw it.
It shattered.
Then the clip ended.
If I saw only that footage, I might have thought I was dangerous too.
The full clip existed on the original home-security backup.
Forty-three seconds.
Before I touched the lamp, Ethan blocked the bedroom door.
I asked him three times to move.
He refused.
He took my phone.
Held it above his head.
Told me:
“You’re not leaving until you stop acting insane.”
I reached for it.
He laughed.
Then pushed me onto the edge of the bed.
I got up.
Grabbed the lamp.
Threw it toward an empty corner.
Not at him.
Still bad.
Still reckless.
But different from:
Emily attacked Ethan with household object.
Ethan had exported only the final eight seconds.
May you like
That version sat inside the legal packet.
The original remained buried inside months of security storage.
