It would only happen once.

Such a betrayal could not be left to pass. If it had just been a simple fling or even a drawn out affair he might have been able to forgive her. But not a breach of trust such as this.

Benson wasn't sure how it had all happened, the levels of deceit were so deep. He didn't remember what had happened before he had been thrown in that cell, but it was okay. He was out now. Everything was going to be okay.

He went over events in his mind trying to find where he had gone wrong, to fall into a trap as he did.

It all began harmless enough; they met bumping into each other walling in the bar.

"Oh! Sorry! Are you okay?"

"Umm yeah... I'm fine thanks."

"Here let me help you with that."

"It's fine.. Really.. oh.. Thank you!" She smiled and looked up at him as they both stood up. "Such a gentleman!"

"Mom taught me well."

She laughed, "I can appreciate that. So... You going in?"

"After you!"

"Mom huh? You've got this down don't you?" She smiled over her shoulder at him as her two friends dragged them in out of the rain.

"What's your name?" he asked her.

She held out her hand. “June. Nice to meet you."

Oh yes... The bitch knew what she was doing right from the get-go. Benson sat in his small hotel room; sat in his head.

She had met his mother shortly after they moved in together.

"June! How are you? I've heard so much about you! Come in dear, It's cold!"

"Mom, I can't believe it's still snowing here! The cab driver almost didn't bring us! I had to pay extra."

"Oh, come dear, give your old mom a hug! You too sweetheart! Do you want tea? Coffee? I have some hot chocolate if you'd like?" Mom turned and gestured to the kitchen.

"Ahh sure, I'd love some hot chocolate! I haven't had that since I was a girl," replied June.

Mom sighed "Oh yes.. Benny here used to come in that very door to hot chocolate every night after playing in the street. He would stomp in with the rosiest cheeks and a nose turned blue!" she looked sideways to June "Usually with a little frozen snot dripping right here!" Mom pointed to her own nose.

"Mom! You're trying to embarrass me?"

Everyone laughed, and June sat next to Mom on the couch and took her drink, Benson across the table. She looked at him intently as she often did, with that one sided smile of hers. What was she thinking?

What was she thinking?

He should have seen it coming, but she had blinded him. It hurt so bad to remember. The past. The woman. What she'd done.

He sighed to himself. Silly man.

It was part of recovery. What they called the "rebound." It was perfectly normal to feel pain, anxiety, frustration. It was part of the cleansing. And soon June too would experience cleansing.

Outside the cab driver blew his horn impatiently, for the second time. Benson grabbed the knife off the bed, stuffed it under his coat, and walked out the door.