Part II
One month prior…
The alarm rang at six a.m. She rolled over, but he was not there. With a sigh of dismay, she stood up while trying to avoid the mirror across from the bed. Her mind was boggled with thoughts such as, would her normal cover up work this time?
Simone was tall with a copper complexion and a model-like frame. Many say that she is remarkably beautiful. Steve, her husband, used to think that also. Her beauty was more than skin deep, though the bruises on her face were concealing that fact. She always tells her friend, family, and coworkers the same story about how clumsy she was the night before, and how she fell and hit her face on the bed. She wondered if it was even worth telling this time.
With a deep breath, she stopped in front of her reflection in the mirror. She was hesitant to open her eyes. She could feel the bruises as if pieces of her face were removed with each punch. She opened her eyes and gasped at her image. Her outer wounds cursed her face. There was no concealer or sunglasses that would cover her bruises. Flashes of the night’s beating raced through her mind. She could feel the pounds on her face as she gently touched each injured area.
She had green eyes which would normally be one of her distinguishing features. Now you would hardly know what color her eyes were. The swelling made it hard for her to open her right eye. A tint of green and purple surrounded her entire right side of her face. Blood stained her teeth and corners of her mouth and nose.
She had a personality that flowed with her looks. She was down-to-earth, friendly, and charismatic. She stayed in the spotlight, even though she always tried to avoid it.
“Simone!”
Her heart fell to her feet as her body quivered. She thought that he left for work already. More so, she hoped he was gone.
“Simone!” Steve called again.
She cleared her throat to rid of the sound of her cries. “Yes dear!” she replied.
He called her name just to hear how she responded. Each morning after, to show compassion, he would come into the room holding a tray of breakfast in which he prepared. It was always the same meal: pancakes with fresh strawberries on the side, scrambled egg whites with cheese, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
He would have her lie down in bed and eat while he called her office to let them know she was not coming in and would work from home. These nights used to not happen at all. Then one day he came home and decided that she was his punching bag. It went from maybe once in a while, to once a month, now to once a week. At least once a week he has a drink. At least once a week he takes his aggression out on her.
Similar to most stories like this, he apologizes afterwards. He kisses her forehead and tells her to behave, and then he goes off to work.
Simone met Steve while they were freshmen in college. She normally kept to herself and put her studies first. They became friends, but that was as far as Simone wanted their relationship to go. By the time they were juniors they were engaged, then married before the end of their senior year. After college they both became successful and followed their dreams. Simone was a CEO of Youth Expressions. Youth Expressions is a magazine targeting young inspiring artists that are trying to make an impact on the world. She worked with the magazine as an intern during her sophomore year in college. She worked hard to prove that she was the best for the entry level position and was hired. Four years later, with much tenacity she quickly moved up the chain to editor and CEO of the magazine.
Steve had worked as a manager of a multi-million dollar computer software company. He graduated with a degree in IT. He was a manager for a technical support team for five years until the department downsized. The company used outside contractors to save money. He struggled to find a job, but was constantly told that he was over-qualified. He settled for low-end jobs in factories, but could never look at himself in the mirror. Soon after, he turned to alcohol as an escape. Having a more successful wife was not in his plan.
Simone hated the morning after more than the night before. She was disgusted with herself and her situation. She did not know how to get out. She once thought that she had the perfect life, but it all came crashing down on her like a ton of bricks.
She took the tray of the shame-filled breakfast he prepared. He turned back to make sure that she took a bite. She always took the first bite to appease him, but shoved the tray to the side refusing to eat the rest. Simone thought back to the night before.
She pulled into the driveway and looked at her clock. She realized that she was a few minutes behind her normal schedule. She knew he would ask her why she was late, so she tried to sneak into the back yard and tend to her flowers to make it appear that she was on time as usual. She came into the back door with a few flowers to put into the kitchen vase.
She immediately began washing her hands and grabbing food to prepare dinner. She checked the great room and noticed that he was still there watching television, so she thought she was in the clear. She seasoned the meat and vegetable and placed them into the oven and proceeded to the bedroom. She began changing her clothes and sensed that he was behind her.
“Why were you late?”
“What are you talking about?"
“Oh, so you think I am stupid now?”
“I sat in the car for a few seconds, then realized I had a few weeds in my flower garden to I went to mend them, then came inside with a few flowers for the vase on the counter.”
“So you did not stop anywhere or do anything when you left work?”
“No, I came straight home. I did pass an accident, which may have put me two minutes behind, but I did not look at the time, so I don’t know for sure.”
Steve walked away and then turned around to say that he was going out for a little while. He wanted Simone to make his plate and put it in the microwave for him, because he would be late. Simone agreed and continued changing her clothes.
Simone began to pray to God: Lord, I need you tonight. Please send your angels to protect me to get through this night. Lord, I know he has changed, but if there is an inkling of the old him there, please let that person come home. Lord, repair his heart and give him the strength to resist the temptations of liquor. Lord, I thank you in advance. Amen.
After waiting two hours after the food was finished, Simone decided to make her self a plate of food. She sat at the table and began questioning her life. She knew that God was real, but began wondering if he was hearing her prayers. She ate her food and began to cry with tears streaming down her face. She decided to make a change. It became apparent to her that the person she once knew was gone and would never return. She had to plan for her future. She called her mother.
“Hello”
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Hey baby girl, what’s wrong?”
“I need a place to stay for a little while.”
“What going on?”
“I can’t talk about it right now, but I am leaving Steve.”
“Baby girl, you can’t leave your husband.”
“Mom…”
“No, you have to work things out.”
“But, mom…”
“No buts. Your father and I have been together for over 40 years. I don’t know what it is about your generation, but you do not take marriage seriously. You marriage has been bonded by God, and no man can separate the two of you. We don’t believe in divorce in this family.”
“Thanks, mom, for not hearing me. I have to go.”
“Baby girl…”
Simone hangs up on her mother then slide down the wall to the floor. She covers her face and cried profusely and cries out “why”. She hears the sound of Steve’s car pulling into the driveway. She wipes her face, puts his plate in the microwave, and then races to the bedroom to pretend like she was asleep.
Steve comes into the house and staggers to the kitchen. Simone can smell the liquor on him from the bedroom. Steve takes his food out of the microwave and begins to eat.
The alarm rang at six a.m. She rolled over, but he was not there. With a sigh of dismay, she stood up while trying to avoid the mirror across from the bed. Her mind was boggled with thoughts such as, would her normal cover up work this time?
Simone was tall with a copper complexion and a model-like frame. Many say that she is remarkably beautiful. Steve, her husband, used to think that also. Her beauty was more than skin deep, though the bruises on her face were concealing that fact. She always tells her friend, family, and coworkers the same story about how clumsy she was the night before, and how she fell and hit her face on the bed. She wondered if it was even worth telling this time.
With a deep breath, she stopped in front of her reflection in the mirror. She was hesitant to open her eyes. She could feel the bruises as if pieces of her face were removed with each punch. She opened her eyes and gasped at her image. Her outer wounds cursed her face. There was no concealer or sunglasses that would cover her bruises. Flashes of the night’s beating raced through her mind. She could feel the pounds on her face as she gently touched each injured area.
She had green eyes which would normally be one of her distinguishing features. Now you would hardly know what color her eyes were. The swelling made it hard for her to open her right eye. A tint of green and purple surrounded her entire right side of her face. Blood stained her teeth and corners of her mouth and nose.
She had a personality that flowed with her looks. She was down-to-earth, friendly, and charismatic. She stayed in the spotlight, even though she always tried to avoid it.
“Simone!”
Her heart fell to her feet as her body quivered. She thought that he left for work already. More so, she hoped he was gone.
“Simone!” Steve called again.
She cleared her throat to rid of the sound of her cries. “Yes dear!” she replied.
He called her name just to hear how she responded. Each morning after, to show compassion, he would come into the room holding a tray of breakfast in which he prepared. It was always the same meal: pancakes with fresh strawberries on the side, scrambled egg whites with cheese, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
He would have her lie down in bed and eat while he called her office to let them know she was not coming in and would work from home. These nights used to not happen at all. Then one day he came home and decided that she was his punching bag. It went from maybe once in a while, to once a month, now to once a week. At least once a week he has a drink. At least once a week he takes his aggression out on her.
Similar to most stories like this, he apologizes afterwards. He kisses her forehead and tells her to behave, and then he goes off to work.
Simone met Steve while they were freshmen in college. She normally kept to herself and put her studies first. They became friends, but that was as far as Simone wanted their relationship to go. By the time they were juniors they were engaged, then married before the end of their senior year. After college they both became successful and followed their dreams. Simone was a CEO of Youth Expressions. Youth Expressions is a magazine targeting young inspiring artists that are trying to make an impact on the world. She worked with the magazine as an intern during her sophomore year in college. She worked hard to prove that she was the best for the entry level position and was hired. Four years later, with much tenacity she quickly moved up the chain to editor and CEO of the magazine.
Steve had worked as a manager of a multi-million dollar computer software company. He graduated with a degree in IT. He was a manager for a technical support team for five years until the department downsized. The company used outside contractors to save money. He struggled to find a job, but was constantly told that he was over-qualified. He settled for low-end jobs in factories, but could never look at himself in the mirror. Soon after, he turned to alcohol as an escape. Having a more successful wife was not in his plan.
Simone hated the morning after more than the night before. She was disgusted with herself and her situation. She did not know how to get out. She once thought that she had the perfect life, but it all came crashing down on her like a ton of bricks.
She took the tray of the shame-filled breakfast he prepared. He turned back to make sure that she took a bite. She always took the first bite to appease him, but shoved the tray to the side refusing to eat the rest. Simone thought back to the night before.
She pulled into the driveway and looked at her clock. She realized that she was a few minutes behind her normal schedule. She knew he would ask her why she was late, so she tried to sneak into the back yard and tend to her flowers to make it appear that she was on time as usual. She came into the back door with a few flowers to put into the kitchen vase.
She immediately began washing her hands and grabbing food to prepare dinner. She checked the great room and noticed that he was still there watching television, so she thought she was in the clear. She seasoned the meat and vegetable and placed them into the oven and proceeded to the bedroom. She began changing her clothes and sensed that he was behind her.
“Why were you late?”
“What are you talking about?"
“Oh, so you think I am stupid now?”
“I sat in the car for a few seconds, then realized I had a few weeds in my flower garden to I went to mend them, then came inside with a few flowers for the vase on the counter.”
“So you did not stop anywhere or do anything when you left work?”
“No, I came straight home. I did pass an accident, which may have put me two minutes behind, but I did not look at the time, so I don’t know for sure.”
Steve walked away and then turned around to say that he was going out for a little while. He wanted Simone to make his plate and put it in the microwave for him, because he would be late. Simone agreed and continued changing her clothes.
Simone began to pray to God: Lord, I need you tonight. Please send your angels to protect me to get through this night. Lord, I know he has changed, but if there is an inkling of the old him there, please let that person come home. Lord, repair his heart and give him the strength to resist the temptations of liquor. Lord, I thank you in advance. Amen.
After waiting two hours after the food was finished, Simone decided to make her self a plate of food. She sat at the table and began questioning her life. She knew that God was real, but began wondering if he was hearing her prayers. She ate her food and began to cry with tears streaming down her face. She decided to make a change. It became apparent to her that the person she once knew was gone and would never return. She had to plan for her future. She called her mother.
“Hello”
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Hey baby girl, what’s wrong?”
“I need a place to stay for a little while.”
“What going on?”
“I can’t talk about it right now, but I am leaving Steve.”
“Baby girl, you can’t leave your husband.”
“Mom…”
“No, you have to work things out.”
“But, mom…”
“No buts. Your father and I have been together for over 40 years. I don’t know what it is about your generation, but you do not take marriage seriously. You marriage has been bonded by God, and no man can separate the two of you. We don’t believe in divorce in this family.”
“Thanks, mom, for not hearing me. I have to go.”
“Baby girl…”
Simone hangs up on her mother then slide down the wall to the floor. She covers her face and cried profusely and cries out “why”. She hears the sound of Steve’s car pulling into the driveway. She wipes her face, puts his plate in the microwave, and then races to the bedroom to pretend like she was asleep.
Steve comes into the house and staggers to the kitchen. Simone can smell the liquor on him from the bedroom. Steve takes his food out of the microwave and begins to eat.
Author notes |
I understand that I came at the first part little dramatically, but wanted to start there and then give a little back story. I work with women of Domestic Violence and feel a little close to this topic. I find that this type of thing goes on more often than we realize. I wanted to capture it in my book to share with others.
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