Again, it features domestic abuse.
May 2017
"Stevie, Stevie, hey Stevie" the tapping on her shoulder pulled her from the trance she had fallen into as she stood pushing coins into the vending machine, knowing she needed to eat but unsure on the chicken salad sandwich she had settled on. "I have been calling you right down the corridor" the voice of Jo Masters caused her to jump nearly a foot in the air, although she did find she jumped at every little thing these days. "Jesus, what happened to your face?" the taller woman asked brushing the hair Stevie had deliberately placed to cover the swelling round her eye
"Oh erm, a can of beans fell out the cupboard, hit me in the face"
"Looks sore"
"No, it's fine, teach me for being such a short arse, what's up anyway?"
"You are coming to the pub tonight?"
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, I text you last week, for my birthday, I'm forty tomorrow"
"Oh right" Stevie never got the text and she knew the reason why "Yes, I'll see what I can do".
Five months had passed since the first time Declan had hit her and three months since it had become a regular occurrence, although she knew it was wrong, in the last few months he had successfully taken over her life, he controlled her phone, her bank accounts, her life and in all honesty she had come to terms with this being what she deserved, this being her life now. Declan was very clever, he never left a mark where it could be seen, that was until a couple of days ago, when she had fallen from his grip and caught her face on the kitchen table, that of course was her fault and she had apologised profoundly as she attempted to stop the bleeding and clean the mess she had made.
"I'm counting on you Stevie, I haven't seen you properly in a long time. Bring DI Flynn with you, yeah?" Jo spoke
"Yes, yes okay, we will be there"
"What's this Stevie bloody Moss actually taking a couple of hours away from loves young dream to get her short arse down the pub?" the Inspectors voice caught her off guard and she turned to face him "What's that?" he asked, moving her hair from her face to look at the cut
"It's nothing Smithy" she batted his hand away "And yes I will get my arse down the pub tonight and less of the short, thank you"
"Sexy little arse better?" he grinned, a grin that was completely infectious and she couldn't help her smile that stretched from ear to ear
"Get your head out the gutter Smithy" Jo laughed before walking off down the corridor
"Yes, after all we are all professionals here" Declan appeared and placed a kiss to Stevie's cheek "And, she is my girlfriend"
"I know" Smithy replied "It's just banter Dec, chill out mate"
"Well maybe keep your banter for outside the station and women who are single"
"Whatever you say mate. See you tonight Stevie" Smithy responded before walking away.
"Tonight?" Declan questioned as he faced his girlfriend
"It's Jo's fortieth, she has invited us to the pub, both of us"
"That sounds nice, doesn't it? A real chance to put on a show for the boys with your sexy little arse"
"Dec, it's just one drink, I will wear whatever you want and I won't leave your side okay, I promise"
"Okay, I guess one drink would be nice" he replied, kissing her lips gently.
Stevie had arrived home earlier than Declan, intent on glamming herself up for a night out with her friends and boyfriend, it didn't happen nearly as much as she wanted. She looked at the cut on her face and let out a sigh, she did love Dec and she knew there was good in him but she had also learnt there was evil in him too and it was that side of him that petrified her. She knew now she should of left after the first time he hit her on new years eve but it was far too late for that now, he had worn her down, now there was just a shadow of the woman she once was, the feisty, fearless Stevie Moss she had built herself into. "You're having a bath?" his voice echoed round the bathroom and she moved from the mirror and turned the taps off.
"Yes, I thought as we were going out tonight I would glam myself up a bit"
"Mmm sure" he replied "But we have spoken about wasting water Stevie, you are only meant to bath when I say so"
"I know Dec but I just wanted to look nice"
"Yeah, we can't have your sexy little arse disappointing your fan club, can we?"
"Dec, I want to look nice for you and besides Smithy was just joking around"
"Was he?"
"Yes, I promise you, he has never been interested in me in that way, please Dec" her voice was already deflated, knowing the evening wasn't about to go as planned
"You like putting on a show, the men leering after you"
"No, I don't Dec" she swallowed hard as he moved to her "I only need you looking at me"
"Whore" he shouted as he forced her to her knees and her head into the bathwater.
She struggled against his grip, his hand holding tightly onto the back of her head, she wasn't sure how long he held her there, most probably only a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime. She could feel the water splashing against her legs as it poured over the side of the bath, as she struggled to get any form of a breath. Pulling her from the water he had an evil smirk cross his face, she coughed as she attempted to regain her breath. "Look at the state of you, Dale fucking Smith wouldn't look twice at you now, you little slut, now clear this water up and get dressed, we are not going to the pub".
Sitting at the table alone in the canteen the following morning, Stevie could feel her emotion rising in her body, she needed her mum, she really missed her mum. She wiped her tears away as she noticed Jo walking towards her. "Happy Birthday Jo, I'm sorry we didn't make it last night"
"Are you sorry Stevie, really?"
"Yes of course I am"
"Yeah of course you are. You know what we are done Stevie"
"What?"
"I'm done with you, you have let me down so much recently, I get it, you are loved up but I have really needed you, you know I got dumped just after Christmas" Stevie shook her head "No, why would you? You know my Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer three weeks ago?"
"I'm sorry"
"No you're not Stevie because all you care about is yourself"
"That's not true Jo"
"I have really needed you. Unless it's work related we are done, stay away from me".
Stevie watched her friend walk away, she had clearly hurt her and she knew Jo would understand if she told her why and how much she needed help at the moment but instead she watched her leave and sunk back into her chair, wincing as the Fresh bruising to her stomach gave her another reminder why she had missed Jo's birthday.
Is this okay? I'm trying to tell my story but through the characters from the bill, am I portraying them okay?
