Sleep Deprived: *Warning: Some Scenes May Disturb Read Free Page A

start crying again.
    I laid baby Claire out flat in the tub, face down, because I sure as hell didn't want her looking at me whilst I acted, and put the saw on the back of her neck, lining the blade up with the birth mark. Her tiny birthmark, the one I used to love to tickle. I ran my thumb over the mark and tried to recall the happier times. The memories didn't come.
    Using long, smooth strokes, I easily cut through the skin on the back of her neck. As soon as I saw the blood, I instantly retched, attempting not to empty the contents of my stomach. Taking deep breaths through my nose, my stomach eventually settled itself. Applying more pressure, I began cutting deeper into Claire's young flesh. That's when the phone rang.
    I yelped and dropped the saw in the tub before springing to my feet and racing to the kitchen where the phone continued ringing. I took several deep breaths until I felt lightheaded and picked up the phone, already knowing who would be on the other end.
    “Hello?” I answered in the calmest tone as I could manage.
    “Hi, Anna, it's Katie. I'm just calling to check on you and Claire,” said Katie. “How are things?”
    “You shouldn't have bothered checking on us, Katie, things are fine here. Claire just went down about 15 minutes ago so everything here is just fine. Nice and quiet,” I replied, smiling. I surprised myself with the calmness in my voice. “Are you having a good time?”
    “Oh, it's been fantastic!” Katie exclaimed. “London is so romantic, if not a little expensive. Oh, I also wanted to let you know that we'll be home in time for dinner tomorrow night.”
    “Fine, fine. I'll have something ready for you when you come in.” I needed to get off the phone but the idea for the perfect dinner entered my mind. “How does a nice roast sound?”
    “That sounds lovely, but please don't go to too much trouble.”
    “Oh, it's no trouble at all. Claire and I would love to make you and Anthony an anniversary roast. It'll be loads of fun,” I replied smiling. “Speaking of Claire, I think she may be stirring. I'd better run. Have a lovely time.”
    “Thank you, Anna. For everything,” Katie replied. “See you tomorrow.”
    “Yes, see you then. Bye.”
    I placed the phone on the counter, noticing how much my hands were shaking. I stood there, gripping the edge of the counter top until my knuckles turned white, trying not to faint.
    She might be waking. Go back in there and finish what you started!
    That snapped me out of my reverie, and I rushed back down the hall and into the bathroom. I leaned over the tub to find Claire face down, just as I'd left her, and breathed a sigh of relief that I had returned before she awoke. Grabbing the saw, I went to work.
    Eventually, the head came off; I wasn't expecting to have to work so hard to remove it. Despite her small size, cutting through the bones took a major effort and I broke into a sweat in the process. The sound of the bones cracking almost made me lose my composure, but the voice in my head kept me strong. You're almost there. Keep going. You'll soon be able to sleep. Then there was the blood. So much blood. I grabbed the head by its short blonde hair, threw it into the trash bin behind me and turned on the tub's faucet to wash the blood away. I rinsed the stump where Claire's head used to be, then lifted her out to clean away the rest.
    You're not finished yet.
    Ah, yes. I had to remove the arms because I certainly couldn't have them flailing about. Using the saw, I cut both arms off at their shoulder joints. Luckily, most of the blood ran out of the body when I sawed off the head, so only a few drops spilled as I removed the arms. I threw them into the bin with the head.
    Time to clean up the roast.
    “ No. I can't do it.”
    You have to clean up the insides before you cook the roast. You wouldn't cook a turkey with the giblets still inside, would you? Cut along the breastbone to separate the ribs. Remove the organs, rinse the body