The Suburbs

Chapter thirty-seven

My mouth is dry, I feel physically sick. I had always been worried about what Alex could be capable of, but I never thought I would have to worry now that I have removed myself from that situation, I thought I had made myself safe. I didn't think this would be a concern anymore.

"Alex, stop this now. You aren't this person!" I shout.

"How would you know what person I am, Mia? You fucking left me and didn't look back. All you cared about was your fucking self!"

"That's not true! I cared for you to, but our marriage was broken, you were broken, and you wouldn't let me fix you. I'm sorry!" I cry and I realise my whole body is trembling.

"Fix me!? You really are an arrogant little bitch! Look at you, living in your pathetic suburban house, you really think you're a somebody don't you? You're NOTHING!" He roars so loud I'm left with ringing in my ears.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry." I sob, growing terrified of him.

"Please stop this. I just wanted to help. I am so sorry!"

"You swan into my hospital room, looking at me with pity in your eyes. You see me as nothing but a joke, don't you? And the second I told you I still cared about you; you threw in my face that you have a new man! You just couldn't WAIT to throw that in my face, could you?"

I watch as his fists clench and his face grows redder with every word, he growls at me.

"No! No, I swear, it wasn't like that. I just didn't want to hurt you. Please Alex, just take a moment to calm down. This isn't you, it's the vodka talking. I know you better than this Alex, please stop this now and we can forget all about it..."

With that, Alex slumps down on the sofa with his head in his hands. I daren't move from the wall or make a sound, I'm still shaking, and my breathing is fast and out of control. I feel as though I could have a panic attack, but I try to remain calm and quiet. If I can get him to calm down just a little, I might be safe.

Alex takes a large gulp of his red wine before placing it onto the coffee table in front of him and looks up at me. His eyes feel cold and unforgiving.

"You broke my heart Mia and then you broke the rest of me. Maybe I wasn't perfect, but I loved you, I loved who you were, before you turned into this bitch."

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

His anger is so up and down, I really have no idea how I can handle him anymore. I wish I knew how to calm him down but with each spiteful word he says to me, I realise that I barely know him at all.

Funny how you can be married to a person and they can still feel like a complete stranger.

"I need you to give our marriage another chance. I need you to tell me you're sorry. I need you to promise me you're going to stop being so fucking selfish and I need you to love me." He announces and his eyes fixate onto me, awaiting my response.

I steady myself against the wall, trying to keep my balance. I feel like I could just pass out. I haven't felt like this since the night he smashed up our house, but the familiarity comes back all too easily.

"I can be your friend. I can be here until you need me." I offer timidly.

He lets out a horrifically fake chuckle before standing up in full rage and throwing the wine glass forcefully in my direction. It misses the side of head by an inch and smashes on the wall next to me. I scream in panic. The stain of the red wine all over my white wall and the shattered pieces of glass around me does nothing to snap him out of his rage. If anything, he glares at me unsatisfied, he's only just begun.

"Alex, Stop!" I plead, but it's too late, before the cries even leave my mouth he has turned to the kitchen and instantly starts to rip cupboard doors off their hinges. He swipes his hands across the shelves until all my cups and glasses are smashing against my tiled floor.

"You stuck up ugly whore!" He bellows before grabbing my photo frames from my dresser and throwing them around the room.

"NO!" I scream as I spot my favourite photograph of my Dad and I high above his head and he readies himself to smash it in front of me.

"Please, Alex! My dad gave me that frame, please!"

My desperate cries seem to give him the kick he needs because a hateful smile spreads across his face the second he realises he now has found my Achilles heel. He now knows how to hurt me, and he revels in the moment whilst he holds my most sentimental item high into the air and laughs as he watches me hopelessly beg him.

My eyes pause for a split second onto the photo of my dad wrapping his arms around me on the beach a few weeks before he passed away and instantly my heart drops into my stomach and without thought, I lunge towards him and attempt to snatch the frame out of his hand.

The next thing I know, I'm on the floor with blood dripping from my cheekbone. It takes me a second or two to realise Alex just used the frame to strike me hard across the face. I lean on my elbow as I try to pull myself up from the floor, my cheek radiates heat and the photo I tried to save is in pieces around me anyway.

"Shit, Mia! I'm so sorry. You wound me up, but I'm so sorry." He breathes panicked, as he climbs on top of me and attempts to cradle me. I'm ready to scream but within a second I see a familiar black trainer fly above my head and slam into Alex's face.

The kick throws Alex back and straight off of me and slumps him against the side of my sofa.

It's Jacob.

"Oh god." I sob as the relief of knowing I'm now safe overwhelms me.

I'm ready for Jacob to scoop me into his arms and take me away from this, but he too looks as enraged as Alex did moments ago. He barely notices me. His eyes are locked onto Alex and he is gunning for him.

Jacob strides towards him and effortlessly pulls him to his feet and slams him against the wall where the wine was smashed. He grips him by the neck, and he looks wildly at me and then back at him.

"This is him, isn't it?" Jacob fiercely yells and I nod as I keep one hand pressed against my bloodied cheek.

Jacob furiously slams his head hard against the wall before throwing a punch. And another.

Alex deserves it but Jacob doesn't deserve to go to prison for him. I throw myself in front of Jacob and as I remove my hand from my cheek to hold him back, his eyes widen as he notices the full impact Alex had on my face.

I can see in his eyes that I'm his priority now.

He instantly cups my swollen cheek in his palm and his eyes go from wild and angry to soft and sad puppy dog eyes.

I turn back to see a shocked Alex wobble to his feet.

He looks utterly blind-sided to have someone fight back.

"Now get the fuck out!" I shout.

I hold myself together and stand tall as he grabs his jacket and phone and clumsily heads out of my front door. I'll be damned if I allow him to see another tear.

But the second he disappears out of vision, my shoulders drop, and my knees buckle beneath me. Now that he is gone, I allow the fear, the pain and everything else I have put up with take over me and I sob into my hands.