I woke up the next morning with Stuart's arms wrapped tightly around me. I touched my cheek that he struck last night. It felt swollen. I sighed sadly, so much for lunch with me mother. Why did he have to his so damn hard?
Last night was not the first time he hit me. Far from it actually. And God knows it won't be the last. My husband, in how he puts it, is the man of the house, therefore must rule it with an iron fist. I try to take it in stride. It is better doing that then having the consequences of his wrath.
Why don't I leave him? I wish I could. I've threatened before. When I do he just beats me, threatens me, and forces me to stay. Who else would ever love you? He asks me, and he is right, who would ever love me?
"Morning Bren." He nuzzled his cheek in my hair. "You were amazing last night." He kissed my neck and I did my best not to recoil. I knew the consequences if I did.
"You were to." I reply automatically.
He touched my swollen cheek and I wince. He grabbed my chin. "You only have yourself to blame you know." He told me before kissing me roughly on the lips. "Don't ever leave me Bren." That's all he said as he got up he grabbed my arm and pulled me up with him. "Come on babe lets take a shower…" He pulled me along, not giving me a chance to even reply. "After our shower I'll call your mom…Tell her you have the flu again."
After a particular rough 'shower' I had to lay back and down and sleep quickly greeted me after Stuart left for work. When he is around I never sleep well…I'm not sure why…It may be the uncertainty that when I do sleep when he is around I may never wake up. The phone had woke me up. "Hi Mom." I say answer groggily.
"Hi sweetie. How you are you feeling?" She asked concerned.
"I'm just really tired right now…" I half lie.
"How about I bring you soup and we'll have lunch in bed?" She asked.
I could not help but smile. We used to always do this when I was little. I wish I could say yes. "You better not mom…I need rest and I don't want to get you sick."
"Okay…" She said sadly. "I'll let you get some sleep. I'll call you tomorrow and see how you are feeling."
"Okay Mom." I said. "I love you."
"I love you to Bren. Oh and Bren, your dad says hi. Bye sweetie."
"Bye." I whisper and hang up the phone.
I rested my head back on my pillow. My dad. I sighed. How ironic was it that he pushed me to be with Stuart. He introduced us. After all the time he spent trying to keep Dylan and me apart…And Dylan never hit me. Not once. Sure he had a temper, as did I. But he never hit me…Stu hits me.
No one has any idea how unhappy I am. They all think I have the perfect life in the perfect marriage with the perfect husband I started to laugh uncontrollably. I really should be an actress.