Suadade: A Short Story Collection

A Day in Paradise

She's been slouched on the couch watching her boyfriend yell to his teammates while playing Fortnite for over an hour. Her back aches, Her spine begging her to crack it. There's nothing more she would love to do right now than stand up and go outside. Go anywhere. She looks to her boyfriend for any sign that he could be feeling the same way. His eyes are glued to the screen, hands all over his controller instead of her. The only time he puts his hands on her anymore is if she's being punished or if he comes home drunk craving sex. All she can hear is: "32 health, downed him. Get your bitch ass up the hill before he kills me. Fuck I'm dead. You bastard."

    She reaches up to lightly touch his arm, "Hey, babe, can we go run errands now? You promised yesterday." She had been begging him for days now, begging him to borrow the car so she could pick up more laundry detergent to handle his pile of dirty clothes that has been overflowing into the kitchen. He told her yesterday that they would get it done, likely only to shut her up.

    He shakes her off and readjusts his giant noise canceling headphones, "You're gonna get me killed." He's practically yelling, her voice getting lost under those of his teammates.

    She stands up and walks in front of his screen. He waves her off and curses her out: "God damned it, Sara, get the fuck out of my way". She walks over to the mantle where he always keeps the keys and walks loudly behind the couch where he sits, hoping he'll see her and at least give some inkling that he cares. She makes it to the door without him noticing. "Bye, see you later," She says quietly, knowing he can't hear her anyway.

    She slams the door behind her and runs down the stairs, trying to make it to the car without tears spilling over her eyes. How did I get here? How has it come to this?

    She wipes her eyes dry and starts the car. The old Honda Accord was something her parents had given to her as a gift when she had turned 16, but now it's something she has to ask permission to use. He couldn't afford a car, and with a lack of a real job, he likely wouldn't be able to for a long time. She turns her rock playlist on super loud and takes off down the street.

    More tears well in her eyes as she tries to see the road through cloudy vision. She doesn't know where she's going, but she's sure as hell not going to the store for damn laundry detergent. She might be able to make it to her parent's house a couple hours away. She'd go to her friend, Cassie's, apartment, but he knows where she lives and would track her down. Should I call her to warn her?

    "Hello?"

    She stares into the road as Cassie's voice comes on the phone. She struggles for the words, but plasters a smile on her face to make her voice sound cheery, "Hey, babes, what's up?"

    "What's wrong, Sara?" How'd she know?

    "Look, I'm leaving. I'm going somewhere, I don't know where yet. I left Jake at home. You might want to go somewhere safe for the night in case he tries to find me."

    "Did he hurt you again?"

She glances down at her wrist, the bruise that rests there just now fading from blue to green, "No, not this time. I just can't..."

"I get it. And you didn't tell him?"

    Her voice wavers, "No."

    There's a slight pause on her end, Sara can feel the tears coming again, "Good for you, girl. Text me when you get somewhere safe, I don't need to know the exact location until he's out of the picture. Get a restraining order or something on his ass, okay?"

    "Thank you, Cassie."

    "Of course, girlie. I love you. Be safe, okay?"

    "I will be. Talk to you later."