Aubrey's Adventure
The wind ripped through her platinum hair as she closed her ice-blue eyes; only for a moment, of course. She didn’t want to run into anything. She looked down at the buildings, the lights of the city then turned her aim in a more peaceful direction. As she turned north, she tried not to think of the recent past; the arm she broke so bad the bone protruded from the skin leaving a scar; the gym teacher calling a social worker over the level of bruises; the accusations against her mother. What was she supposed to say? I just discovered I can fly and I have not figured out how to do so without hurting myself? All of this meant new state and a new school. A student body that refused to accept her. As she left the city behind, the darkness that hid her five-foot frame also made it harder to see but she didn’t mind. As the distance increased, the stiffness from a typically hard day eroded into peace.
After flying for about thirty minutes, she saw a rather large pond with a small amount of moonlight glistening off it and decided to take a rest. She landed with her new-found grace, only having mastered this still a few weeks ago. She beamed proudly then realized she forgot to scan the area, cursing herself silently for acting like an amateur. She crouched to the ground and took a look around hoping no one saw her and that if they did see her they would call it a trick of the light.
Satisfied, she stood up and gazed at the pond. The peace of the sight seemed to ease her mind and she smiled slightly. Now that she was on the ground, she looked around and noticed she was on a farm. She could make out horses, only two. She could smell what she thought was cows but being from the city, that was just a guess. Suddenly the alarm on her watch went off and she sighed sadly then took to the sky. She had to get to bed. She had to go back to hell in the morning.
She stood in front of the school, looking at the doors she must go through. She braced herself for what she would endure, hugged her books to her chest, put her head down and started the journey. Not five steps and already the popular girls elbowed her as they passed her. She gripped her books tighter and finally made it. She knew better than to go to her locker first thing in the morning so she headed straight to her first class. Algebra. Fun. She sat in the back of the classroom. As the other students filled in their seats, a boy kicked her chair as he walked by. It was like this each day. Always subtle. Always to look like an accident should a teacher see. Class after class, the day droned on. Will the torture ever end? She guessed the answer was no.
The final bell for the day rang and she gladly boarded the bus home. For two months they had lived here and still not friends. No one to confide in. Her parents didn’t even know.
She walked through her front door and she heard a voice from the kitchen. “Is that you Aubrey?”
“Yes mom!”
“How was school?” She comes out of the kitchen to look her daughter over.
“Do you have to ask? I hate it here!”
“Sweetie, you know this is the best for us…. I made your favorite for dinner. Homemade chicken pizza with ranch sauce!”
After much persuasion, Aubrey headed to the kitchen to choke down a slice of pizza. After one slice, she forgot she was upset. At least for a moment. She was able to put the day behind and enjoy a meal with her mother. “When is dad coming home?”
“Should be next week. Is there anything you want me to tell him next time he calls?
“Just tell him I love and miss him. I need to go get my homework done.” With that, she headed to her room. As she was working through her math, she kept thinking about the farm she had visited the night before. Something was drawing her there. She didn’t understand it but she was learning to not ignore that feeling. She finished her homework but it was still too early. She could hear her mother in the other room so she decided to write in her journal.
There once was a girl who flew
But there was nobody who new
In silence she suffered each day
Careful to not give it away
Friendless and alone for all time
Wonder if happiness will ever be mine
After two hours of writing only six lines and till not being satisfied, she put the journal down. She quietly when out into the hall and listened. Her mother was snoring down the hall. She quickly went back to her room and locked the door. She unlocked her window. She leaned on the sill for a few moments pretending she was enjoying the night air while she looked carefully for any potential observers. She climbed out the window, stood on air, then went straight up, trying to gain altitude to keep from being seen. When she felt she was high enough, she headed straight for that farm.
She landed by the pasture but not too close to the horses. She wanted to approach them carefully and didn’t think they would take kindly to a flying human. This time a light came on above the barn. She dropped to the ground, laying flat. Eventually it went out and she stood back up slowly guessing the light had a motion sensor. She saw the horses behind the barn and approached slowly. They seemed skittish but allowed her to approach. She cursed herself for not bringing carrots. Horses like those right? Or was it hay?
The light came on again and she ducked between the horses. Two males exited the barn.
“See dad, it was just the horses that set the light off”
Dad was hesitant. “Well, okay. That foal isn’t going to come tonight. Let’s go get some grub.”
“I’ll be in in a minute.”
With that, dad nods and heads toward the house. The young man watched dad as he closed the door behind himself. He looked toward the horses “those horses didn’t sprout new legs, come out and introduce yourself.” His voice was kind, not like what she was used to.
She awkwardly stepped out of her hiding place and took one step toward the light. “I’m Aubrey.”
“Hi Aubrey, my names, James. Can I ask why you are hiding between the horses?”
“I.. I…. I just wanted to pet them!!!!! Please don’t call the cops!!!!”
He smiled “Have you ever ridden one?
“Ride? No…. I fear I’d fall off! Did I hear your father mention a foal? Is there a baby horse coming?”
He chuckled at her excitement. “Come with me”.
She followed him into the barn and he lead her to a stall in the bac. It was the biggest in the building. “This is Donita” and he gestured toward a very swollen horse “She is due any day now.”
Aubrey smiled and leaned on the stable walls gazing at the horse. James asked her some questions and she answered him. The sun started coming up and she realized she forgot to set her alarm. Then she realized she had been talking to someone. Exchanging more words than sorry and excuse me. She told him she had to go but promised to come back that night if she was welcome. James agreed. She walked to the end of his driveway, then looked back. He had gone inside. She took to the air, quickly getting high. She had to return home before everyone woke up. On the way home, she pondered if she was confident enough in her flying skills to catch herself should she fall off a horse or if she’s instinctively take flight and her secret be discovered.
As she dressed for school without a wink of sleep, she smiled brightly. It didn’t matter that she was going back to hell. She had found a friend.
was going back to hell. She had found a friend.
After flying for about thirty minutes, she saw a rather large pond with a small amount of moonlight glistening off it and decided to take a rest. She landed with her new-found grace, only having mastered this still a few weeks ago. She beamed proudly then realized she forgot to scan the area, cursing herself silently for acting like an amateur. She crouched to the ground and took a look around hoping no one saw her and that if they did see her they would call it a trick of the light.
Satisfied, she stood up and gazed at the pond. The peace of the sight seemed to ease her mind and she smiled slightly. Now that she was on the ground, she looked around and noticed she was on a farm. She could make out horses, only two. She could smell what she thought was cows but being from the city, that was just a guess. Suddenly the alarm on her watch went off and she sighed sadly then took to the sky. She had to get to bed. She had to go back to hell in the morning.
She stood in front of the school, looking at the doors she must go through. She braced herself for what she would endure, hugged her books to her chest, put her head down and started the journey. Not five steps and already the popular girls elbowed her as they passed her. She gripped her books tighter and finally made it. She knew better than to go to her locker first thing in the morning so she headed straight to her first class. Algebra. Fun. She sat in the back of the classroom. As the other students filled in their seats, a boy kicked her chair as he walked by. It was like this each day. Always subtle. Always to look like an accident should a teacher see. Class after class, the day droned on. Will the torture ever end? She guessed the answer was no.
The final bell for the day rang and she gladly boarded the bus home. For two months they had lived here and still not friends. No one to confide in. Her parents didn’t even know.
She walked through her front door and she heard a voice from the kitchen. “Is that you Aubrey?”
“Yes mom!”
“How was school?” She comes out of the kitchen to look her daughter over.
“Do you have to ask? I hate it here!”
“Sweetie, you know this is the best for us…. I made your favorite for dinner. Homemade chicken pizza with ranch sauce!”
After much persuasion, Aubrey headed to the kitchen to choke down a slice of pizza. After one slice, she forgot she was upset. At least for a moment. She was able to put the day behind and enjoy a meal with her mother. “When is dad coming home?”
“Should be next week. Is there anything you want me to tell him next time he calls?
“Just tell him I love and miss him. I need to go get my homework done.” With that, she headed to her room. As she was working through her math, she kept thinking about the farm she had visited the night before. Something was drawing her there. She didn’t understand it but she was learning to not ignore that feeling. She finished her homework but it was still too early. She could hear her mother in the other room so she decided to write in her journal.
There once was a girl who flew
But there was nobody who new
In silence she suffered each day
Careful to not give it away
Friendless and alone for all time
Wonder if happiness will ever be mine
After two hours of writing only six lines and till not being satisfied, she put the journal down. She quietly when out into the hall and listened. Her mother was snoring down the hall. She quickly went back to her room and locked the door. She unlocked her window. She leaned on the sill for a few moments pretending she was enjoying the night air while she looked carefully for any potential observers. She climbed out the window, stood on air, then went straight up, trying to gain altitude to keep from being seen. When she felt she was high enough, she headed straight for that farm.
She landed by the pasture but not too close to the horses. She wanted to approach them carefully and didn’t think they would take kindly to a flying human. This time a light came on above the barn. She dropped to the ground, laying flat. Eventually it went out and she stood back up slowly guessing the light had a motion sensor. She saw the horses behind the barn and approached slowly. They seemed skittish but allowed her to approach. She cursed herself for not bringing carrots. Horses like those right? Or was it hay?
The light came on again and she ducked between the horses. Two males exited the barn.
“See dad, it was just the horses that set the light off”
Dad was hesitant. “Well, okay. That foal isn’t going to come tonight. Let’s go get some grub.”
“I’ll be in in a minute.”
With that, dad nods and heads toward the house. The young man watched dad as he closed the door behind himself. He looked toward the horses “those horses didn’t sprout new legs, come out and introduce yourself.” His voice was kind, not like what she was used to.
She awkwardly stepped out of her hiding place and took one step toward the light. “I’m Aubrey.”
“Hi Aubrey, my names, James. Can I ask why you are hiding between the horses?”
“I.. I…. I just wanted to pet them!!!!! Please don’t call the cops!!!!”
He smiled “Have you ever ridden one?
“Ride? No…. I fear I’d fall off! Did I hear your father mention a foal? Is there a baby horse coming?”
He chuckled at her excitement. “Come with me”.
She followed him into the barn and he lead her to a stall in the bac. It was the biggest in the building. “This is Donita” and he gestured toward a very swollen horse “She is due any day now.”
Aubrey smiled and leaned on the stable walls gazing at the horse. James asked her some questions and she answered him. The sun started coming up and she realized she forgot to set her alarm. Then she realized she had been talking to someone. Exchanging more words than sorry and excuse me. She told him she had to go but promised to come back that night if she was welcome. James agreed. She walked to the end of his driveway, then looked back. He had gone inside. She took to the air, quickly getting high. She had to return home before everyone woke up. On the way home, she pondered if she was confident enough in her flying skills to catch herself should she fall off a horse or if she’s instinctively take flight and her secret be discovered.
As she dressed for school without a wink of sleep, she smiled brightly. It didn’t matter that she was going back to hell. She had found a friend.
was going back to hell. She had found a friend.
This story was never titled. The assignment was write a short story with word-count restrictions.
She opened the door against the darkness without knowing what compelled her. Lacy stared at the black wondering why she did and shut the door against the chill night air. She went back to the kitchen and finished preparing dinner, hating cooking for one. Suddenly she felt she was not alone.
“Who’s there?”
No response. She turned off the burners, drained the noodles and ladled some meat sauce over them. Taking the garlic bread from the oven, she sat at the table to eat her meal. She let out a scream as her plate slid across the table, shattering as it hit the floor. All that remained in front of her was her bread. Mouth still gaping, she tested the table to see if it was still level. No movement. She looked around as the air grew more chilled.
“WHO’S THERE?”
Silence responded.
“Gary, is that you?”
Silence remained. The air grew colder still. It seemed to close in on her. She burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry!!!! Please forgive me….. I didn’t know that would happen….. You have to believe me…..”
Her voice cracked in between sobs and words.
“They said… you owed them money….. how was I to know…. The Truth!!!!”
The air quit closing in but held steady.
“I love you …. I wake crying every day….. I miss you…..”
The air grew warmer, gently hug her then returned to normal. She heard a faint “check the safe, goodbye”. She cried releasing pent up emotions of regret.
Delicate Flower
She heard a car door slam and panic set in. She had intended on steaks for dinner but had burned them. The noodles for the spaghetti had just finished. She knew she was in trouble but if she could get this served up quick enough maybe she would be okay. She drained the noodles and screamed as the hot steam seared her flesh. No time for cool water. Have to get it plated. She filled a plate then brought it to the stove as the door opened. She jumped.
“Hi honey. How was work today?” then she noticed the look on his face and knew she was in serious trouble.
“Shitty. Where’s my dinner!” his booming voice making her tremor. The set table showing the evidence that once again, she had been a very bad wife. She was going to be punished. Again.
She scooped sauce from the pot and presented the plate to him praying her trembling hands wouldn’t spill anything.
“Where the HELL is my steak!”
She gulped and tears welled in her eyes as they went toward the garbage can.
“You burned my fucking dinner! How fucking worthless are you! You can’t even cook a God damned steak!” Brutus’ hand flew across her face faster than she could blink. Spaghetti, always her back-up dish, went everywhere, including down his front. Fire ignited in his eyes as the plate shattered on the floor. “LOOK WHAT YOU DID!” grabbing her hair, he whipped her around like a rag doll.
Orchid screamed at the sudden violence then chastised herself silently knowing it always made him even more angry. Then she felt the blow she knew was coming, all the air in her forced from her lungs as his huge fist impacted with her stomach. Another scream escaped her lips despite her attempts to stifle it. His fist impacted with her stomach one more time before he released her hair and she dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap. She wanted to cry but the air to breathe didn’t come. She drew her knees to her chin and held them tightly with her arms wrapped around them praying for death.
He stood above her, not seeing her. She knew he was looking around at their spotless home, looking for something to complain about. Then he found it.
“What the hell is that?” He left her side and went across the living room. He grabbed a picture frame of the wall. The day that picture was taken, things were so different. He’d been kind and loving. Everyone thought they were the perfect couple. “What is THIS!” as he thrust the frame in front of her eyes. She still couldn’t draw enough air for words to defend the small speck of dust in the corner of the frame. “I’ll teach you to not answer me!” as the frame shattered against her helpless frame. Another small scream escaped her lips and the impact was repeated. She could hear the glass shatter against her body, feel the sharp shards of wood as they pierced her flesh. Then the tears came.
His rage spent, he grabbed her plate off the table and fixed himself a plate of spaghetti. He sat at the table eating as though nothing happened. “This is the shittiest sauce you have ever prepared! Why is there no garlic bread?” She whimpered on the floor.
“I said WHY IS THERE NO GARLIC BREAD?”
“No time” she gasped as she attempted to stand. She got to her feet somehow and got to the other side of the table where the hall was.
“No time….. No fucking time….. Must be nice to sit on your ass all day getting fat while I bust my ass all day!!! Why are there no napkins on this table!”
“The dryer went off as I was draining the spaghetti.”
“Well go get me one and put the rest of the clothes away while you’re at it!”
Brutus continued to curse her as she hobbled down the hall of their single-wide mobile home toward the laundry room. Orchid’s hand reached for the door to the laundry room and paused. Instead, she went to her bedroom door and opened it. She then opened the window very quietly. She hoped that would cause him to think she had climbed out the window and run off. She hoped this would buy her some time. She stealthily entered the guest room and closed the door behind herself. Then she went into the closet and closed that door behind her. She cowered in the back corner of the immaculate floor.
Orchid heard the timer on the oven go off in the kitchen. She heard his chair scrape against the floor as his large frame slid back to get up and turn it off. She was shocked he didn’t howl for her to take care of it. But she knew there was a howl coming.
3.
2.
1.
“BAKED POTATO! WHO THE HELL EATS BAKED POTATO WITH SPAGHETTI!”
There it is. She closed her eyes and pressed her aching body into the corner. She heard the oven click as he turned it off then the loud band as he slammed the oven door closed. “ANSWER ME DAMNED WOMAN!” But she couldn’t give away her position. She had to maintain her rouse.
As she kept still in her hiding spot, her mind drifted back to that day. She had been sitting in the park feeding the ducks some stale bread. She heard a voice behind her.
“Do they bite”
“Only if you don’t feed them”
“I guess I shouldn’t come near then!
She laughed at his quip. He was so smooth. So handsome. His voice was kind and disarming. Those dark brown eyes were filled with inquisitiveness and tenderness. A girl could get lost in those eyes.
He approached her holding out his hand “My name’s Brutus”
She chuckled “Brutus, well, I’m Orchid.”
His smile filled his face and shined like the sun, “well, if you like my name, my brother’s name is Julius! My mother was a fan of Shakespeare. The fights we got into in school…..”
“Do you like coffee” she couldn’t believe the words escaped her mouth.
“Who doesn’t!”
She laughed at his joviality. “No one I want to know!” They walked to the local coffee shop talking and laughing as though they had known each other since childhood.
It didn’t take long before they were never seen apart. They were always smiling, always holding onto one another. They were so deep in love, though they had such a contrast in appearance. He was six foot 4, a mountain of a man. She was five foot and a diminutive frame. He had short dark hair, brown eyes. She had long blond hair and blue eyes. He likes wrestling and violent movies, she liked the arts and museums. Somehow, none of that mattered.
Orchid would never forget the first time he hit her. She had spilled wine on his shirt. Brutus apologized to her so profusely and promised to never do it again. He didn’t mean it. He loved her. He never wanted to hurt her. That’s how it always starts out, right?
She came crashing back to the present as colossal feet came thundering down the hall.
“Why are there BAKED POTATOES! ANSWER ME!” She heard the laundry room open with a bang. “WHERE ARE YOU?” The thunder quickened as it came closer to her then passed her. The bedroom door, the room where they once made love, cracked off the hinges and she heard him hurl it against the far wall. She heard a scream of rage as she assumed he saw the open window then it sounded like a tornado attacked their bedroom. She could picture the violence he was doing to their once slice of heaven. Her heart pounded in her chest and she begged it to calm down fearing he’d hear each beat.
This wasn’t her first time she ran away from him. The last time … Orchid woke in the hospital. The pain was excruciating, She had suffered multiple fractures in both arms, both legs and a couple of her ribs were broken. Brutus had threatened to kill her and she felt he meant it so she ran. She had been a bad wife again. When he found her hiding at her mother’s house, all he said with each explosive blow was “bad girl”, “bad wife”, “take your punishment in silence” and “you know you deserve this”. She didn’t want to come back but he threatened to kill her mother so she would have no place to run to. So here she was. Living in hell. Praying for death.
Suddenly there was silence.
She didn’t know why but this sudden end to the maelstrom scared her even more. She didn’t dare move. She prayed to become one with the closet. Without warning, the door to the room she was in flew open. It stuck there, the knob embedded in the wall with the force of it being opened. Again, she heard silence. Hearing nothing, the light beneath her closet door vanished into total darkness. She held her breath afraid it would betray her. She saw the door knob turn and buried her head in her hands not wanting to see what was coming. She heard the door open and felt her wrists get violently grabbed. She screamed in a pain she never felt before. She knew both wrists were shattered as she was dragged from her hiding place. He placed both wrists in the same hand. He placed his empty hand on her throat.
“I’ll teach you to make a fool of me.” The growl echoed in her ears as the vice closed around her throat. Her limbs writhed as the air was denied her body. Orchid forced herself to open her eyes and stare at the monster she once called a loving man. All she saw was darkness in the face staring back at her. Nothing human remained. Her last thought as her soul left her body was Why did I have to wear perfume today.
“Hi honey. How was work today?” then she noticed the look on his face and knew she was in serious trouble.
“Shitty. Where’s my dinner!” his booming voice making her tremor. The set table showing the evidence that once again, she had been a very bad wife. She was going to be punished. Again.
She scooped sauce from the pot and presented the plate to him praying her trembling hands wouldn’t spill anything.
“Where the HELL is my steak!”
She gulped and tears welled in her eyes as they went toward the garbage can.
“You burned my fucking dinner! How fucking worthless are you! You can’t even cook a God damned steak!” Brutus’ hand flew across her face faster than she could blink. Spaghetti, always her back-up dish, went everywhere, including down his front. Fire ignited in his eyes as the plate shattered on the floor. “LOOK WHAT YOU DID!” grabbing her hair, he whipped her around like a rag doll.
Orchid screamed at the sudden violence then chastised herself silently knowing it always made him even more angry. Then she felt the blow she knew was coming, all the air in her forced from her lungs as his huge fist impacted with her stomach. Another scream escaped her lips despite her attempts to stifle it. His fist impacted with her stomach one more time before he released her hair and she dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap. She wanted to cry but the air to breathe didn’t come. She drew her knees to her chin and held them tightly with her arms wrapped around them praying for death.
He stood above her, not seeing her. She knew he was looking around at their spotless home, looking for something to complain about. Then he found it.
“What the hell is that?” He left her side and went across the living room. He grabbed a picture frame of the wall. The day that picture was taken, things were so different. He’d been kind and loving. Everyone thought they were the perfect couple. “What is THIS!” as he thrust the frame in front of her eyes. She still couldn’t draw enough air for words to defend the small speck of dust in the corner of the frame. “I’ll teach you to not answer me!” as the frame shattered against her helpless frame. Another small scream escaped her lips and the impact was repeated. She could hear the glass shatter against her body, feel the sharp shards of wood as they pierced her flesh. Then the tears came.
His rage spent, he grabbed her plate off the table and fixed himself a plate of spaghetti. He sat at the table eating as though nothing happened. “This is the shittiest sauce you have ever prepared! Why is there no garlic bread?” She whimpered on the floor.
“I said WHY IS THERE NO GARLIC BREAD?”
“No time” she gasped as she attempted to stand. She got to her feet somehow and got to the other side of the table where the hall was.
“No time….. No fucking time….. Must be nice to sit on your ass all day getting fat while I bust my ass all day!!! Why are there no napkins on this table!”
“The dryer went off as I was draining the spaghetti.”
“Well go get me one and put the rest of the clothes away while you’re at it!”
Brutus continued to curse her as she hobbled down the hall of their single-wide mobile home toward the laundry room. Orchid’s hand reached for the door to the laundry room and paused. Instead, she went to her bedroom door and opened it. She then opened the window very quietly. She hoped that would cause him to think she had climbed out the window and run off. She hoped this would buy her some time. She stealthily entered the guest room and closed the door behind herself. Then she went into the closet and closed that door behind her. She cowered in the back corner of the immaculate floor.
Orchid heard the timer on the oven go off in the kitchen. She heard his chair scrape against the floor as his large frame slid back to get up and turn it off. She was shocked he didn’t howl for her to take care of it. But she knew there was a howl coming.
3.
2.
1.
“BAKED POTATO! WHO THE HELL EATS BAKED POTATO WITH SPAGHETTI!”
There it is. She closed her eyes and pressed her aching body into the corner. She heard the oven click as he turned it off then the loud band as he slammed the oven door closed. “ANSWER ME DAMNED WOMAN!” But she couldn’t give away her position. She had to maintain her rouse.
As she kept still in her hiding spot, her mind drifted back to that day. She had been sitting in the park feeding the ducks some stale bread. She heard a voice behind her.
“Do they bite”
“Only if you don’t feed them”
“I guess I shouldn’t come near then!
She laughed at his quip. He was so smooth. So handsome. His voice was kind and disarming. Those dark brown eyes were filled with inquisitiveness and tenderness. A girl could get lost in those eyes.
He approached her holding out his hand “My name’s Brutus”
She chuckled “Brutus, well, I’m Orchid.”
His smile filled his face and shined like the sun, “well, if you like my name, my brother’s name is Julius! My mother was a fan of Shakespeare. The fights we got into in school…..”
“Do you like coffee” she couldn’t believe the words escaped her mouth.
“Who doesn’t!”
She laughed at his joviality. “No one I want to know!” They walked to the local coffee shop talking and laughing as though they had known each other since childhood.
It didn’t take long before they were never seen apart. They were always smiling, always holding onto one another. They were so deep in love, though they had such a contrast in appearance. He was six foot 4, a mountain of a man. She was five foot and a diminutive frame. He had short dark hair, brown eyes. She had long blond hair and blue eyes. He likes wrestling and violent movies, she liked the arts and museums. Somehow, none of that mattered.
Orchid would never forget the first time he hit her. She had spilled wine on his shirt. Brutus apologized to her so profusely and promised to never do it again. He didn’t mean it. He loved her. He never wanted to hurt her. That’s how it always starts out, right?
She came crashing back to the present as colossal feet came thundering down the hall.
“Why are there BAKED POTATOES! ANSWER ME!” She heard the laundry room open with a bang. “WHERE ARE YOU?” The thunder quickened as it came closer to her then passed her. The bedroom door, the room where they once made love, cracked off the hinges and she heard him hurl it against the far wall. She heard a scream of rage as she assumed he saw the open window then it sounded like a tornado attacked their bedroom. She could picture the violence he was doing to their once slice of heaven. Her heart pounded in her chest and she begged it to calm down fearing he’d hear each beat.
This wasn’t her first time she ran away from him. The last time … Orchid woke in the hospital. The pain was excruciating, She had suffered multiple fractures in both arms, both legs and a couple of her ribs were broken. Brutus had threatened to kill her and she felt he meant it so she ran. She had been a bad wife again. When he found her hiding at her mother’s house, all he said with each explosive blow was “bad girl”, “bad wife”, “take your punishment in silence” and “you know you deserve this”. She didn’t want to come back but he threatened to kill her mother so she would have no place to run to. So here she was. Living in hell. Praying for death.
Suddenly there was silence.
She didn’t know why but this sudden end to the maelstrom scared her even more. She didn’t dare move. She prayed to become one with the closet. Without warning, the door to the room she was in flew open. It stuck there, the knob embedded in the wall with the force of it being opened. Again, she heard silence. Hearing nothing, the light beneath her closet door vanished into total darkness. She held her breath afraid it would betray her. She saw the door knob turn and buried her head in her hands not wanting to see what was coming. She heard the door open and felt her wrists get violently grabbed. She screamed in a pain she never felt before. She knew both wrists were shattered as she was dragged from her hiding place. He placed both wrists in the same hand. He placed his empty hand on her throat.
“I’ll teach you to make a fool of me.” The growl echoed in her ears as the vice closed around her throat. Her limbs writhed as the air was denied her body. Orchid forced herself to open her eyes and stare at the monster she once called a loving man. All she saw was darkness in the face staring back at her. Nothing human remained. Her last thought as her soul left her body was Why did I have to wear perfume today.