Anna started crying but she knew it was useless to argue with him. Once when she’d made his lunch, a glob of mayonnaise had dropped into the open trash can next to the stove. She’d begged him not to make her lick it up out of the trash, half-filled with the remnants of that morning’s breakfast and wet coffee grounds. He’d slammed her head into the side of the stove and then shoved her face into the trash can. The memory of the painful lump on the side of her head reminded her not to disobey a direct order, no matter how disgusting. Anna’s tongue darted out, lapping up the egg. She gagged several times but was careful not to throw up. She didn’t want to find out what his punishment would be for defiling his space in that manner. His grip on her neck tightened every time she heaved. Finally, he let her straighten up and sat back down in his seat, staring at her intensely.

‘What do you have to say for yourself?’

‘Sorry, Master,’ she choked out.

She continued making his breakfast, tears streaming down her face as she took more care, the raw egg churning in her stomach. When the food was done, the toast made to the exact color he’d shown her the first time she’d cooked for him, she plated his breakfast and set it down on the table, making sure the plastic knife and fork were lined up perfectly on the cloth napkin next to the plate. Anna knew she was supposed to wait until he inspected everything and deemed it worthy of eating, so she stood in obedient silence. She’d been through this routine many times before. Sometimes he approved what she prepared for him. Other times, he’d find one small thing wrong and throw the entire plate into the sink. On these instances, he’d make her cook the food all over again until it was right. Apparently only he was allowed to waste food. He looked up at her and smiled. She exhaled and lowered down to her knees, relief coursing through her. She was to kneel next to him and watch as he ate, just another form of torture after what little food they were given to survive on.

‘Wipe those tears away, you should feel honored to spend your time with me.’