Chapter 4 (Warning this chapter Jumps from Past to the Present)

"Yea, I remember, but what does that have to do with what we are talking about now? If anything, that should make you remember falling in love with me at first sight," Larry said as Janine scoffs, going on to say, "You funny, but do you remember our wedding night? The day you propose, I was so happy you were everything to me, and you could do no wrong in my eyes. I don't know how I was so weak, but I was." "I couldn't agree more, Janine, you were so beautiful in the wedding dress, and everything was so amazing that night," Larry says. Janine could only think if she could've gone back in time, she could have stopped a lot of heartache and pain.

"What the fuck is you doing, Janine?" Janine froze the bruises from yesterday, still aching. She didn't want to experience another beating, so she made sure to do everything she needed and was required to do, even making dinner early and preparing a nice hot bath. She turns to her husband, Larry. She tried to stop her shaking, but it was so uncontrollably hard. Never in a million years had she thought the man with who she fell in love, the man that had shown her a place where she could belong, or the man who had comfort her doing her hard times would turn around and hurt her in more ways than one. Whether it was verbal or physical or heartbreak, the man before her had found all ways to break her. It was like a never-ending cycle of predator's and prey only difference was the prey would try to put up a fight even if it still winds up losing its life in the end. Janine was somehow similar to that of a quarry only difference has she welcomed the abuse, and just like a predator, Larry issued it. She was driving away from the closeness of all her friends and family trapping her in a confining cage and forcing her to break of sanity when she felt she couldn't live without him. How could that be, though, from a confident twenty-year-old to a scared, helpless twenty-five-year-old stuck in a horrendous marriage? 

Right now, she was getting slapped for not having cleaned the house to his perfection, but of course, Janine saw through that bullshit. He just wanted a reason to hit her. The smell of her blood and the smell of the alcohol as her husband screamed at her was all she smelt for five more years. Now when does the cycle of constant apologies and never-ending abuse ends? When does the "I'm sorry baby! Please forgive me! I swear I'll change" OR her responses  "I understand baby,  I know you had a rough day, and I forgive you" ends. What a horrible cycle, and for a moment, she felt as if she would die. 

(Back to the present -_- )    

 Janine frowns before asking, "Do you remember our tenth anniversary night?" The line was silent for a few moments before she heard Larry clear his throat, "Yeah, I uhh remember. Even though I try not to think of it too much. Look, I understand I wasn't the best of a man, but I have changed. I mean, you put me in a wheelchair. You've already gotten even with me, right?" Janine scoffs before laughing. "That's wasn't revenge. My revenge would've been killing you that night. All the shit you put me through, and yet you still have the nerve to be arrogant even in a wheelchair?  That night I wished I had the heart to put a bullet in your head." 

(6 YEARS AGO)

"How are you doing on this lovely evening," the waitress questions as the couple make their way towards the back. Janine and Larry both meet up with their waiter for the evening. Janine strangely was excited. She smiles at the waiter as he motions for the couple to sit. The table was beautifully decorated. The whole establishment was beautiful. Janine couldn't help but smile at the thought of her husband wanting to take her out. It was surprising and brought her back to the time of their first few anniversaries before her husband started to drink, and well, you already know. However, Janine shook her thoughts as she looks towards her husband, who seemed uninterested as she smiled at him. 

"You look, handsome babe. The designer did a good job on the tuxedo," Janine tells her husband, looking over the menu. Larry grunts in response, replying with a dry thank you, and Janine could feel that the mood was not what she wanted it to be. "So, did you find anything you like to order yet? I was looking at the alfredo, and it sure does look good," Janine says, trying to lighten the mood. For the first time since the couple has been sitting in the chairs, her husband finally looks up at her. "You went down to Co-Design the other day?" Larry questions, his voice cold. Janine tenses it was confirmed she did go down there but did they have to discuss this right now? "Do we have to discuss this right now? I mean, honey, it's not that serious. It's not like I was looking to work down there. Cant we just en-" "You know I hate it when you lie. I thought you knew better. Now tell me the truth a friend of mine bitch works up there, and she told her husband, you came up there looking for a job. Why is that?" Larry says, cutting Janine off. 

Janine could feel the lump growing in her throat. The whole demeanor of the man in front of her was menacing. It was true she went to Co to try and get a job as an interior designer, and that was because she was tired of sitting around the house. Design is what she went to college for; it was her talent, and Larry knew this but still chose to ignore it. Janine averts her eyes away for a moment, her body shaking as she tries to form up an excuse. "Answer me damnit!!" Larry yells, banging one of his fists on the table. The noise causes some people to look up to whatever they were busy doing.

Soon a lot of eyes are on the couple, some people even whispering, and others stare in confusion. Janine begins to panic, not here of all places and not on their anniversary night. For the rest of the evening, the couple's mood and the atmosphere were tense, like cutting through a bar of cheese that sat in the freezer for too long. Any small talk, mainly from Janine, would end in the other partner humming or grunting in response. After their dinner the couple a waiter came to the table.

Janine could tell by the look of the expression on his face that even could say the couple had not enjoyed their evening together. Strangely since the man was indeed a pretty average-looking man and the woman beautiful, they belong on the cover of a magazine. The young lad then notices the woman still staring at him. He could take in her beauty and her melanin shining brightly through her right fitted dress. Her skin glowed under the porcelain light just like his own pale one. She was indeed blissful.

"Take a picture. It'll last longer," Janine, who was in deep thought to hadn't realized she had let her eyes wander to the young waiter before her. Her thoughts were on an entirely different subject than the younger one in front of her. She lets out a little laugh before reaching into her purse. The ongoing before her was still smiling at her. He was a nice caucasian fellow with some pretty blue eyes and beautiful white teeth, and he looked no older than twenty-one. "Oh im sorry, young man. How much is that going to be?" Janine asks, pulling out a couple of twenties.

The boy shook his head, "It's on the house tonight, mam. Besides, it's your folks' anniversary. I'm pretty sure you all then spent enough already consider this a gift for you, pretty lady." Janine could feel her face heat up as the male before she complimented her. It had been a while since she received one sad, but her husband doesn't do it much often. "The fuck is you are doing? You must be lost too damn mind flirting with this cracker in my damn face!" The sudden use of that racial slur causes the young man to look at the managing man. "What did you call me? Sir, that word is offensive. I advise you not to use it," Janine tries her best to reassure the heated water.

"What the hell you mean, Cracker? Are you going to make me stop using it or what? If you aren't going to, do shit, shut the fuck up, and go on about cho business," Larry stands up as the people got curious once again. Some even whispering again or Dont they have no shame this is a public place. "Larry, stop! Have you lost your damn mind?" Janine says, standing up, gathering her things, and walking towards Larry.

She touches his shoulder, but like an upset toddler, he pulls away from her. "I think you both should go now before I call security," A woman from the sidelines says. As Larry, who was tipsy, narrows his eyes at her, "Bitch we were leaving ain't no need for you to ask us twice. Get cho shit we out this bitch." Larry turns on his heels, walking out the door.

He was drunk, and as much as Janine didn't want to go, she still went anyway but not before apologizing to everyone on her husband's behalf. Why is it that she'd become so good at lying for this man? Why was it so impossible to leave this man? In the end, she knew the answer, but it hurt like hell to say it out loud.

"The fuck you still standing there for getting cho ass in the car!" She hears him scream at her and the only thing she could do is prepare for the worse.

And that she did...Cough Cough

The sounds of her coughing up her blood by the toilet as red substance trickled down her legs. Raped and beaten after their anniversary, a day that's supposed to be very special to weds all over the world no matter how you celebrate it but yet again, here she was for the last time, bloodied and bruised. Undescribable pain and her regional area and a massive pain in her chest, but whether or not it was her heart or her swollen bruise, maybe a broken bone, Janine didn't give a damn. She was tired, and this time, she meant it. She was tired. The man she fell for was no longer there, and soon, his life wouldn't be here either.