Escape To Him

Fresh Start

Michael headed to the lounge and sat down, draping his arm across the back of the couch. Charlotte hesitated before choosing to sit in the armchair across from him. He spoke first, "I know I said we'd talk tomorrow but I feel like you're not going to give me the chance to, so it'd be better if we spoke now" his voice turned serious. "I'm sorry that I hurt you, my anger got the better of me and I promise it will never happen again," he stared straight into her eyes "you don't have to forgive me right away but I hope you'll give me a chance to prove to you I'm still the guy you fell in love with."
"Michael you attacked me" Charlotte blurted, surprising even herself.
"I know, I know but I've been under a lot of pressure with the new job, I've been trying to protect you from it but I just lost it, so what I don't deserve a second chance after everything we've been through?" Michael replied calmly.
"I need space Michael, can you please just go to Adam's."
"I'll give you space if you promise me you won't leave this house whilst I'm gone" Michael said, maintaining his unwavering stare.
Charlotte paused, why couldn't she just feel comfortable lying to him, she thought to herself, after what he did to her it shouldn't feel this hard. But it was no longer Charlotte's decision, her brief silence had told him everything he needed to know.
"Then I'm staying," he said standing up "I'll stay in the guest bedroom."

And with that he left the lounge. Charlotte sunk deeper into the armchair covering her face with her palms. Part of her was saying get out now while the other part, growing in strength, told her he was right. They have been through so much and they'd moved out here to start a new life together. Charlotte had chosen that, to leave now was to throw away everything they had and could have, and she wasn't ready to do that. She had far from forgiven Michael but having settled on not making a quick get away, she decided the only thing left to do tonight was get some rest. She headed up to their empty bedroom and collapsed into bed, pulling the comforting duvet on top of her. She looked over to the empty side of the bed and sighed before closing her eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

Charlotte woke up with a start to a knock on the bedroom door. "Come in" she said after taking a moment to orientate herself. Michael entered the room, breakfast tray in hand, he was already dressed for work in his suit and tie. Michael always dressed smart, his black hair was styled in a neat crew cut and he would always be clean shaven. "Good morning" he said brightly placing the tray next to Charlotte and planting a kiss on her forehead. "Hi" she replied flatly, eyeing up the scrambled egg on toast and taking a sip of the orange juice.
"I thought we could have a fresh start" he said "it will be like when we first got together."
Charlotte didn't feel like replying, despite her slumber she still felt mentally exhausted.
Michael sighed and looked down away from her for the first time, "I'm really trying here Charlotte, I want to fix this."
Charlotte paused for a moment considering his unusual bent over posture "Ok you can make it up to me", she replied.
He looked back up at her smiling and pulled her into an embrace, causing her to wince at the pain shooting through her torso. He quickly released her, "Sorry," he said "look I'm going to cook a romantic dinner for us tonight when I get back from work and maybe we can cuddle up on the couch and watch a film, that sound good?"
Charlotte nodded with a small fake smile plastered on her face.
"Great" he said rising up from the bed, "well I'm going to head into work now, it's probably best you stay in today" he said glancing over her face "I'll answer any doorbells on my phone at work, you just relax" he smiling and turned to walk out of the room.

Charlotte waited to hear the sound of the front door close before letting out the breath she'd been holding and letting her body flop back onto the mattress. A fresh start, she thought to herself, she wasn't sure she could do that, she wasn't sure she'd ever trust him again. Seeing Michael's face used to light her up inside but now she just feel like a scared little girl. She sat up quickly, I need to distract myself, she thought, she didn't want any memories of last night creeping into her mind. She got up and took a shower. Walking over to the mirror with the towel wrapped around her she noticed fresh bruises had blossomed overnight all over her arms, wrists and neck. She lifted a hand to her busted lip, still swollen. She could see why Michael didn't want her to open the door as a dark bruise had spread further across her right cheekbone. She attempted to cover it up with makeup, she didn't want to see herself like that. It wasn't convincing up close but from a distance you might not notice the bruising. She got changed into a long sleeved, high neck top and jeans and she felt she almost looked like herself again, if it hadn't been for the cut on her lower lip.

She went downstairs, it was a beautiful day outside and the sun was shining in through the windows heating up the house. She glanced out onto the street and noticed the rubbish truck coming down the road and realised she had forgot to put the bins out, Michael would be angry she thought. She quickly pulled the recycling bin out of the cupboard and headed out the front of the house, pouring the contents into the large wheelie bin I then dragged it out to the curb. In her haste she didn't notice the man standing in next doors front garden.

"Hello" came a low voice surprising her, she jumped, quickly turning to the sound. The tall, broad shouldered man was stood watching her with an amused look on his face, he chuckled at her reaction, his eyes seemingly lifting his whole face into a wide smile. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you, I'm Ryan I just moved in next door" he said cheerfully, "I'd shake you hand but-" gesturing to the box he was holding.
"I'm Charlotte" she said with a smile "I live here" pointing to the house behind her. As she turned back towards him his face grow darker.
"Hey your lip is bleeding" he said, leaning over to get a closer look, Charlotte steeped back instinctively.
"It's fine", I say "just a small cut that hasn't quite healed up yet" moving her hand to hide the wound.
Ryan noticed her unease, moving back to give her space. "How'd it happen?" he asked inquisitively.
"Oh just a gardening mishap, I've got to get on actually"  she continued, not giving him a chance to ask more questions "It was nice to meet you Ryan" she said already turning and to walk back to the house.
"Nice to meet you too, hope to see you around soon" he shouts after me.
Charlotte turned to smile back at him before closing the front door. She leant her head against the door, I'm such an idiot, for letting him get that close she thought to herself but something about the encounter has her smiling.