Husband Beater

Chapter Four

Sleeping inside of a bathtub is not my forte; my back was stiff and stuck in place, my neck was in pain from the brawl with Jack and from the angle it was when I slept in the tub.

My hair was stuck to my face from all of the tears I cried, and I was bruised with specks of dried blood on me.

I sat up in the pearly white bathtub and cracked my back and neck back into place. My nose fucking killed, along with my jaw. It feels like I had a staple gun go through my jaw and pin my teeth together.

Groaning softly, I lightly massaged my jaw and got down a few pain pills from the cabinet. I also brushed out my hair, washed the remaining blood off my face and body, and sat on the toilet.

I sat with my hands in my lap and thought about my options. I was afraid of Jack and didn't want to face him. Never in my entire life have I ever stood up to anyone like that.

But enough was enough.

I'm not some punching bag; I won't let you take me down or beat me up. You can't use me for your advantage and just throw me away. I'm a better person than that and I, even though I don't show it, have self respect.

I'm done hiding in fear and crying myself to sleep. If I die, I die, but Jack can't take away my respect.

I love him, God damn, I fucking love him. But I can't stand being a punching bag anymore. Jack needs to change for me to love him and show it. I can't go on like this; I'll die if he keeps beating me like this.

"Hey, Lex. Please come out. I'm setting a sandwich and a pop by the door." I heard Jack say, guilt lingering in his voice.

"I-I'm sorry. I really mean it this time." Jack said as his voice cracked. He was about to start crying.

"I've been b-blind. Alex, please. I love you."

At that point, Jack was crying, and I had tears streaming down my face.

"I took you for granted. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just, Lex."

Jack sobbed and I heard him sit on the floor outside the door. He cried out to me and laid on the floor. I got on my knees and say close to the door, leaning my head against the wood. Tears fell freely down my face and onto my lap.

"I miss you. The real you." I whispered against the door.

"I c-can change! P-please-" Jack started sobbing again and stuck his fingers under the bottom of the door.

I wiped the tears that were blinding me off my face and put my fingers with Jack's. He soothingly rubbed his fingers on mine and cried more.

In the three years we've been married, and the four years we dated, and the ten years we knew each other, I've never heard Jack cry.

This was new, and I could tell it was real. By the way he couldn't suck in a breath without another sob slipping out, and the way his voice cracked as he spoke.

"Please, Al-Alex. Come out." Jack cried. "I can try again. I-I'll sleep on the c-couch. Fu-fuck! I'll even turn myself in!" Jack sobbed.

"I love you." He cried.

I bit my lip and stood up. This might be the worse mistake of my life, but I ripped the door open.

What saw broke my heart, worse than it was already broken.

Jack was curled up on the floor, clutching my pillow that I slept on and crying loud and hard. Big sobs, unlike the ones I've cried, escaped his lips and tears fell onto the pillow.