Chapter 11
I stare in the mirror.
My face in unrecognizable
It's swollen with blue and purple coloring.
James has forbidden me to leave the house for a while.
He doesn't want anyone to see me.
He raped me so brutally last night that he tore something within me. I'm still bleeding out a bit.
Even though it stings I had to use a tampon and pretend I was on my period.
He won't take me to the doctor. He never does.
I go back to bed and just lay there.
He told me not to get out of bed today and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
So I lay there and wallow in my pain.
I finally close my eyes and think of Edward and some of the pain goes away.
…
…
My mother calls me and we catch up.
She asks how that wonderful husband of mine is doing and I tell her he's great.
I ask her how she and Phil are doing. They're doing really well.
She invites James and me to fly out and pay them a visit.
I say that would be lovely, I'll be sure to let him know.
We hang up.
I throw the phone across the room.
…
...
That night James comes home with flowers.
I take them and put them in water.
He brought home take out and we eat in front of the TV.
After we finish eating I go outside to check on my garden.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" James thunders at me.
I cry out when he grabs my bruised arm and drags me into the house.
He pushes me against the closed door and presses his face against mine.
"You are not to leave this house." he spats.
He pushes me away roughly and I stumble.
"Go to bed." he says angrily.
I do.
…
…
After James leaves for work I start to clean the house.
I'm cleaning the bathroom when I hear a knock at the door.
Despite how I look I answer the door.
It's Edward
I look of pure horror flashes across his face and he clenches his fists.
"Hi," I say weakly.
"Hi? That's all you can say is hi?" he says angrily.
I pull my hair to cover my face. "It's nothing, go away."
He clenches his jaw. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Go away Edw-"
"No Bella, you need help." he argues.
I take a breath. "Just go." I start to close the door but he stops it with his hand.
"You don't want to talk with me? Fine, if I can't talk some sense into you then maybe someone I know can." he stalks away, not looking back.
I lean my head against the door frame and watch him walk away.
Oh Edward, how I wish I could do what you want.
I wish it was that easy.
But you don't know James like I do.
If I leave he won't stop until I'm dead, until you're dead.
I can't let anything happen to you.
Because I love you
