To my lovely readers who saw the connection to the movie, Sleeping With the Enemy: YESSSS! I had originally had Gone Girl in mind as I was planning this but it had shifted to this course kind of without my knowledge. It was completely unintentional, but I can ABSOLUTELY get those vibes from that movie!
"Smile."
He says the words through teeth clenched as tightly as his fists beneath our table.
Looking towards the camera, I flash the photographer the smile they're all looking for and turn my face back towards my new husband. To everyone on the outside, we're just two people in love.
So sickeningly in love that it makes some people turn away.
"She's so lucky,' I've heard some say in town behind my back when they thought I couldn't hear them. 'She gets to go home to him every night.'
Swallowing the last of the champagne in a newly gifted flute, I stare at the man sitting next to me.
My husband.
I used to dream that one day this would be real—that he would ask me to be his wife. And I would wear a designer gown with tears in my eyes when I saw him waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
That used to be my dream.
Now it's my nightmare.
It wasn't always like this.
She went through with it. It takes a lot of time and courage to leave an abusive relationship such as this. The psychological wounds are just as gruesome as the physical. Luckily, I've never experienced this for myself, but I have watched people suffer through it until they were ready to make the move on their own.
Bella will make that move. See you tomorrow!