MARITA

A Reason to Stay (Part 5)

Please, let it not be Frank Marita silently prayed. She doesn't need complication at this point. Her tears are brimming. Her throat felt full when she choked back her tears. This came from somewhere deep in her. From a dark place where she hid many of her fears and anger.

Knock.. Knock...

"Mari... it's Jo" said the voice from outside the door.

Marita covered her face with her hand and went to open the door.

Joshua saw an upset woman in front of him. He slipped in quickly and locked the door behind him again. He put his arm around Marita's shoulder and guided her to sit on the sofa.

"Cry! Just cry! Use this cushion" he said to Marita handed her the sofa cushion to dampen her cry later. Marita did what he told. After few minutes of her crying to the cushion she lifted up her face. Joshua was ready with tissues and water. He has been living for years with these girls that he knew sometimes a good cry will make all the difference.

"Better?" he asked. Marita nodded.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked again softly. Marita shook her head.

"Alright! You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Do you want me to call Diah?"

"No. I'll be alright." Marita gathered all the tissue she had used and put it in the small trash bin next to her.

Joshua eyes observed her. He went over to rub her shoulder. But Marita screamed in pain.

"What?! What's wrong?" He jumped back.

"Ouch... my shoulder..." Marita pulled her V neck dress aside on her shoulder to peek at a bruised collarbone.

"Oh Honey! What happened?" Joshua gasped. His eyes widened. "Did Arnold hit you?"

Marita shook her head. "The seatbelt..." Marita sighed.

"Is it from just now? I saw him break so hard in front earlier"

Marita nodded.

Joshua grunted. "Let me get you some ice..."

Moments later, Joshua came back with a can of cold soft drink. "I can't find ice. But this will do." He handed the can to Marita and went over to the window.

"Mari... I don't want to sound nosey. But are you sure you wanted to marry Arnold?"

Marita looked up to Joshua standing by the window. He has his back turned so he won't look at Marita who had to pull the V neck aside and exposed her left shoulder to be able to put the cold soft drink to the bruised collarbone.

"Yes..." She answered shortly.

"You do realize that this is not the first time. Breaking his car hard seems like his favourite way to punish you, huh?" said Joshua looking out the window.

"You can't say that, Jo. What punishment?"

"I counted 3 incidents. First, your forehead was bruised for hitting the dashboard. Second, your right eye for hitting the dashboard again. Remember that week of panda eyes? Then this one. All when you and him got into a row"

"It's an accident, Jo. He was angry at something. A person can get mad you know. He didn't do it on purpose" denied Marita. But then she thought to herself Why did she defend him? Was she trying to convince herself?

Joshua sighed. "Can I turn around now? I need to go back to my work" he asked.

Marita fixed her clothes. "Yes"

Joshua walked over to the door but then turned around to see his friend. "Mari... I'm telling you as a friend. There's still time. Don't make a decision that you will regret just because you have been with that person for a long time."