Sorry, peeps, for the delayed chapter... I've just been really conflicted about what should happen next. But here it is, soo...

-Maria's POV-

Out of all the times in my life, I'm not sure if I've ever felt more alone than I did at that moment. So it only makes sense that I would welcome anyone into my life, into my house, into... into my bed.

I was just walking home- I had not waited for Peggy, although I should have. Maybe that would've averted this.

I passed by and recognized the house of a man I knew - everyone knew - very well. He held not only a high place in our government, but he was also extremely outspoken about, well... everything. I happened to know he was well off and could provide for someone like me, someone with no place to go. I consider this option- Peggy and George were right, I needed to get away. But I couldn't go to Peggy anymore, and I didn't have a way to contact George. Maybe, just maybe, this man would be kind enough to provide for me. Without even realizing I had climbed the steps, I raise my hand to hesitanly knock on the door. He opens in nearly no time. I clear my throat, looking to the ground.

"I know you are a man of honor..." I swallow nervously. "And I'm so sorry to bother you at home..." I pause again. Why was I doing this? This was dumb... Of course he'd never help me. But it was too late now. I continue. "But I don't know where to go, and I came here..." I trail off, remembering Peggy. I didn't mean to hurt her. Already choking back tears, I add, "... all alone..." And just like that, it all comes pooring out. "My husband's doing me wrong... beatin' me, cheatin' me, mistreatin' me..." Then I realize that he would think me a coward for just running, so I add a small little detail. "Suddenly, he's up and gone... I don't have the means to go on" I hold back a sob, not looking in his eyes. He awkwardly pats my shoulder- I suppose he doesn't know how to react. I try to compose myself, and after a bit, he offers:

"Uh... do you wanna ride? Back to your house? Maybe some money?" He offers, and I almost reject him. It wasn't what I had been hoping for, but maybe it could help.

"You're too kind, sir..." I accpet hesitantly, ducking my head. He disappears into his house and comes back with three ten dollar bills, to a total of thirty dollars. Not a lot, but still something. We walk home, exchanging a few words. I needed to make him change his mind, give me a home, a place to stay for just a while.

"This one's mine, sir..." I whisper quietly when we come to my house, glad to find that James is gone. I open the door and ask him to come in, trying to stall until I find a way to get him to change his mind.

"I should head back home..." He points back in the direction we came as if I had already forgotten, but I can't let him go that easily. On a spur of a moment decision, I grab his hand and pull him to the bed. I sit down and, using the small red sundress Peggy had lent me to my advantage, spread my legs, tossing him a shy look. Please say this would work.

"Stay~~"

"Hey..." He mutters, already doubting his previous decision to leave. I bite my lip, looking up at him.

"Hey~" For a few minutes, he looked like her was going to say no, so I pull him towards me and lock my lips to his in a kiss. I didn't know what I was doing, and I didn't know where it would get me, but I wasn't thinking. I was just... doing. And before I could even hardly register, it was over, and we were both panting, him carressing my face more lovingly than James ever had. I find myself leaning into his touch as he kisses me softly, then I fall asleep.

I don't know what happened while I was asleep, but I know the man - Alexander - was gone when I woke up, and James came in moments after I woke up, storming and yelling. I rush to get my dress back on, but I couldn't put it on in time. James walks in on me, and the anger only increases. I start to apologize, but he refuses me.

"So this is what you do while I'm gone, huh?" He sneers, looking at the bed, which was still a mess from the heat of passion.

"N-no...!" I cry out, and he strikes me.

"Don't lie to me, bitch." He grabs my chin. "Now tell me what happened here-!" I whimper and avoid eye contact. "Well?!" He's bellowing by now, and I push the words out of my mouth.

"I was... out... walking" I lie, hoping he wouldn't notice. "And I stopped by... his house... walked me home... first tim-- AH-!" I yelp as he drops and slaps me again.

"Did you really think you could fool me?" He snarls menacingly. I whimper and cower under his gaze, flinching and crying out as he strikes me again. "I know you've been sneaking out to see him, worthless cunt."

He was wrong, for once. I actually hadn't been, but dare I say anything? No, absolutely not. Because I'm a coward, a worthless coward...

These thoughts tune out James' words and blows, but even though i dont seem to feel them, I can still feel the hurt. The ache.

Eventually, it's finally over. In most moments like these, I'm glad I have James to punish me for how worthless, how helpless I am. But this time, it's not enough. I scamper to the bathroom, glancing at scars from ages ago, from other times James hadn't punished me enough, before grabbing a razor and cutting it through my flesh, hardly wincing at the pain and watching in almost mesmerization as the blood drips down.

One.

I'd go to at least twenty, for how shameful I am.

Two.

Worthless.

Three.

Whore.

Four.

Hated.

Five.

Helpless.

Six.

Coward.

Seven.

Horrible.

Eight.

Insensitive.

Nine.

Slut.

Ten.

Ugly.

Eleven.

Unfaithful.

Twelve.

Bitch.

Thirteen.

Useless.

Fourteen.

Unneeded.

Fifteen.

Attention-seeker.

Sixteen.

No one really cares.Seventeen.

Does James care?Eighteen.

Why don't you just kill yourself?Nineteen.

No one needs you.Twenty.

Everyone. Hates. You.

OMLI'm really sorry for that huge time gap call it writer's block idk...But good news!I'm moving this story to Wattpad too, so yay!!You should follow me on there @ EmoizerSo long and goodnight