One Thousand Miles

Chapter  |  A Cry For Help

Part  |  One

We had our one year anniversary in silence. I still refused to talk to him after he had made me quit my job. There were times where I would say one word to hi, but that was only if I had to. He seemed okay with it in the beginning until finally he got tired of being ignored. It was like he thought I would love him more now that I was no longer working at my job, but it was the actually the opposite. I still loved him, but I hated him for taking away something I loved.

The day he got tired of being ignored went by pretty good. Well minus the beating I got.

I was standing over the stove cooking dinner when I suddenly heard the door slam shut. I jumped about ten feet in the air before turning towards the archway just as John stepped inside the kitchen. I turned away from him and continued cooking. After a few seconds I felt an arm latch itself onto my wrist. I quickly spun around to face John, and before I could say anything he backhanded me across the face. I fell to the floor with a scream and brought my hand up to block any blow he was about to throw.

I watched in fear just as he picked up the pot I was cooking dinner in, and threw it across the kitchen making everything fall out. I stared up at him with wide eyes as he quickly walked over to me and picked me up by the arm I held up. He brought me into his chest and leaned his face just a few inches away from mine. He let go of my wrist and placed his arm on my back to keep me close to his chest.

"You think you're just going to walk around here ignoring me?" he asked just as he used his free hand to smack my butt. I screamed out in pain before letting a loud sob slip from my mouth. I look down just as tears started to fall down my face, but he roughly grabbed me by my chin and made me look up. "You look at me when I'm talking you. Now, I believe I asked you a question, so I expect you to answer it goddammit!"

I whimper in fear which causes him to get angrier. He smacks me three more times on the butt causing me cry and scream out in pain. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I---"

"Did I ask you for an apology? I asked you a simple question now answer it! Don't make me have to take my belt off Stephanie," he growls at me.

I suck in my bottom lip to hold back a sob before letting it go. "I-I," I stop as soon as I see his face before finally whispering the word, "No."

He lets out a long breath and I look down again, but this time he doesn't make me look up at him. "Then why are you ignoring me? If you're still pissed at me for making you quit your job then get over it. I did what was best for us Stephanie. I refused to sit around and watch as I let my wife get comfortable with another man."

"But I loved that job, John. That was my dream job," I whisper.

He sighs before bringing his free hand up and brushing some of my hair out of my face. "I know that, but staying home and taking care of the house is your job now. I don't want you out there in the city where a bunch of guys could easily take advantage of you. I want you here at home where you are safe."

"So what you're saying is I can't leave the house?" I ask as I look up at him with tear filled eyes.

He just looks back at me before wiping a falling tear from my cheek. "I don't want you leaving the house or calling anybody. I just can't take the risk of losing you baby." 

I sigh and nod my head slowly. "Okay."

A smile slowly appears on his face before he cups both of my cheeks in his hands. He brings our faces together and plants a kiss on my lips before pulling away after a few seconds. "Good, now why don't you clean up this mess while I go finish up some work?" I nod my head and try to pull away from him, but he just holds me tighter. "Let me see that smile first."

I look at him for a moment before I finally force a smile on my face. He laughs and pecks me on the lips before leaving out of the kitchen. I stand there for a couple of seconds before grabbing a roll of paper towels off the counter. I rip off a couple before slowly walking over to the mess on the floor and crouching down. I try to keep myself from crying, but after a few seconds the tears are streaming down my cheeks and sobs are leaving my mouth. I wipe away a little snot that had left my nose with the back of my hand before I continue cleaning.

A few days later here I was staring back at myself in the mirror. I had just stepped out of the shower and was of course examining my hideous body. I used to just stare at myself and point out my flaws, but now it was a different story. After the abuse started, I started to feel much better about the color of my hair and anything else I wished I could have changed because the bruises left behind from the abuse took my attention away from that. 

I slowly bring my hand up to a big purple bruise on my cheek. I run my fingers over it a couple of times before letting my hand fall down to my side.

I sigh just as I hear the sound of the toilet flushing from beside me. John washes his hands and wipes them dry on a towel before stepping behind me. He slowly snakes his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him. "Baby, stop doing this to yourself, you're so beautiful."

I look at him through the mirror and nod my head. He smiles before kissing the top of my damp head and straightening up. As soon as he's out of the bathroom I walk over to my dress hanging on the back of the door and hold it up to my body. It was a purple colored dress that went down mid-thigh. It was strapless which meant I would need to wear something over it to hide my bruised arms.

I sigh and quickly slid the dress on before stepping back in front of the mirror to look at myself. I ran my hands down my sides and quickly looked up just as the door to the bathroom opened. 

"Baby, I can't seem to get my tie---" he started. He was now looking at me with wide eyes filled with lust and a hint of love. He blinked before looking at me in awe and admiration. He slowly walked towards me and stood there for a second before leaning down and kissing me on the lips. The kiss is slow and lasts about ten seconds before we pull away breathless. He looks down at me with slightly closed eyes and brings his knuckles up to my cheek. "You look beautiful."

I blush and look down at myself. "Thanks baby."

He grinned before pointing to his tie. "Do you mind helping me with this?"

I laughed and shook my head before bringing my hands up to help him with his problem. "You have really got to learn how to do this yourself."