Wilting Flowers

Chapter 3

"Where the fuck have you been?" a threatening voice seethed from behind her as she shut her eyes tightly. Fuck. She was hoping he would fall asleep by now.

"I just needed to get some air."

"You couldn't have done that outside our house?" he asked folding in his arms.

"I wanted to get away. Is that such a bad thing?"

"Of course, it is. What's out there that I can not give you right here?"

"Independence. Work. Human communication. And that's just to name a few. Do you need more than that or do those examples suffice?"

"Don't raise your voice at me, I was just asking you a simple question."

"Then stop being so paranoid. You know I wouldn't cheat on you, so why do you keep insisting that I would?"

"I don't have to explain my feeling to you. Now do me a favor and get me another beer."

"Fuck you." Rose spat as Adrian closed the space between them and threw her to the wall making her cry out.

"What did you just say to me you fucking bitch?"

"I said fuc-"her speech was cut short when Adrian punched her in the stomach sending a rush of air out of her in a struggle to breath as she collapsed to the ground. Fuck that hurt.

"Say that to me again and I'll do it harder next time. Now go before you piss me off any further."

Scrambling, Rose rushed into their room, locking the door so she wouldn't have to deal with Adrian for the rest of the night as she collapsed onto the floor clutching her stomach. God, it still hurt.

Pulling up her shirt, she examined the new purpling bruise gritting her teeth in frustration before she grabbed her phone and called the one person who was always willing to listen.

"Rose? What's wrong?" Lissa asked, her voice full of concern.

"He did it again Lissa. I-I'm not sure what to do."

"You need to get out of there Rose. Get to a place where it's safe."

"There is no safe place Lissa. He'll always find me. You know this."

"Then tell him Christian and I broke up and you need to comfort me because I'm a wreck. He might let you out for that one and it will give us enough time to form a plan." She replied as Rose bit down on her nails.

"Him and Christian work together Lis, there would be too many holes in the story. Besides he's not an idiot, he'll work it out sooner or later."

"I'm not sure what else to do Rose. I don't know what to do if you won't let me help you."

"I just need time Lissa. Maybe someday soon he'll decide that he's no longer attracted to me and he'll leave me on his own accord."

"So, you're risking your life for a man who not only beats you but caused you to miscarry in the hopes that he'll find another girl to beat the shit out of."

"It's not like that Lissa, you know I wouldn't want him to hurt anyone else."

"Then find a way to report his ass."

"Lissa, he has the police in his back pocket, If I report him, he'll just make it go away."

"This is bullshit Rose; you shouldn't have to live like this."

"Maybe one day I won't have to."

"Just remember I'm one call away. If he does this again tonight give me a call and I'll be right over. No questions asked."

"Thanks Lis."

"Take care of yourself Rose." She replied hanging up the phone as Rose took off her clothes and laid in bed hoping the sweet bliss of sleep would take her soon.

"Rose." Adrian's voice whispered from the door as she kept her eyes shut tightly. There was no way in hell she would let him know that she was still awake.

Rose listened as Adrian's footsteps sounded on the floor getting closer and closer to their bed making her stomach flip while she stayed silent. Please, not tonight.

"Rose?" he whispered closer now as his hands laid on her arm trying to shake her awake. Her eyes stayed closed.

Sighing he gave up trying to wake her as she heard his belt unbuckle and his clothes slid to the floor slipping into the bed beside her and pulling her to him keeping her there.

The stench of alcohol was still on his breath as he leaned in closer sniffing her hair and traveling his hand over her body. She hated when he touched her like this. It was almost hard to forget that he was a monster until he touched the fading bruises on her throat. The ones he had put there.

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I promise it won't happen again." He whispered kissing her hair. He had always promised that every time he hurt her. "I love you."

After that she waited a few moments as his snores filled the room before she let her body finally relax and let the sweet bliss of night take her away from her living nightmare.