Loving Him

Chapter Two: Flashback

I did it. I let it all out. Pete and I have been sitting on the couch for the past ten minutes in absolute silence. I was staring at him, trying to study his expressions, but he had that on lockdown.

Without saying a word, he got up and went upstairs. I heard our bedroom door slam and a few moments later there was a series of loud thumps coming from the room. I cautiously made my way upstairs. I knew Pete was a gentleman and was against hitting women, but I had never seen him like this and this became uncharted waters for me.

The sweat made my palms slippery and I had to swallow the lump forming in my throat as I started up the stairs. Thoughts also occurred of how my parents even found my work place, but Pete denied ever being involved with them.

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"You bitch! Who the fuck do you think you are? How dare you say such a nasty thing about your sister? And in a school of all places! Come here you little shit," I felt his hands grab my hair and drag me upstairs to my parent's room. I knew what was about to happen. There was no point in trying to give my side of the story. They NEVER listened to me and when they did, they NEVER believed me. Once we got there he tied my hands and legs up, went into the wardrobe, and chose the belt he planned on using. I was shaking and unable to control it. I made the mistake of turning and catching a glimpse of the belt he had selected. The chainmail.

I shut my eyes as tight as I could. Dug my hands into the edge of the bed, tensed my body, and prepared myself for a world of pain that was about to unfold, this wasn't the first time and I knew it wouldn't be the last. The sound the belt made on impact was inhumane. I couldn't scream and was thankful that not a sound slipped out of me or else he would have done so much worse. After the third lash connected with my lower back, I could no longer hold on to my consciousness. I was glad that numbness enveloped me.
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I snapped out of my flashback, whimpers leaving my body from the memory. I couldn't face him. I couldn't face Pete, not after that. I ran back downstairs, grabbed my bag and keys, and ran for my car.

I had no idea where I was going, driving aimlessly with no destination. Twenty minutes or so into my drive I pulled over and found that I was at my first rental here in Sydney. There was no one home, so I decided to sneak around the back and look at the views from the backyard. I went to the box where I had kept my towels and was elated to see that they were still there. Grabbing the fluffiest one I made my way to the edge of the yard where it connected to the beach. I sat down and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the sunset and the silence.

Lost in thought I went back to when my parents and Gene had come to see me at work. The fact that they thought they could have expected anything from me was hilarious. I was so emotionally drained that I burst out laughing at my dire situation. Childhood trauma has resurfaced and I had my first panic attack since the last time, five years ago. I was so excited and looked forward to my name change. All thoughts of Pete had completely left my mind until I heard my phone ringing from the car.

I made my way up, brushing the sand off my clothes, folding the towel up, and placing it back in its cubby, I walked to the car. Grabbing the phone I hadn't realised how long I was sitting and pondering for. It was already eleven. The phone had stopped ringing so I left it and hopped in. Starting up my car the phone started ringing again. Looking at the caller ID, I took a deep breath and answered.

"Before you say anything, I want you to please know this has nothing to do with you. I love you, but this relationship has been at a stalemate for the last six months. You know about my parents. I just can't and I am so sorry for that. I really hate myself for having to put you through this," I blurted when I answered.

"I get it Cleo, I have no idea why this shocked me, cause I had always known that something like this was going to happen. I just didn't realise it would have been this sudden. You haven't been yourself for the past six months. Please come back so we can figure this out, and again, I didn't meddle in your family affairs. Yes they reached out to me but I ignored them completely", with that he hung up and left me in thick silence once more.

My nervousness set in again once I turned into my street. I had Kat to crash with. Maybe I'll do that. Again, taking a deep breath, I grabbed my stuff and headed back inside. Pete was already sitting on the couch waiting for me. Bags were packed and a woman was sitting next to him.
"Um, hi there," I said awkwardly offering them a small wave when they turned. Pete beckoned me over and patted the empty spot next to him.

"Cleo, this is Pam. Pam, Cleo," he gestured toward me and Pam as an introduction. "I've been wanting to talk to you for a while Cleo, I've been seeing Pam. It only started when you kept talking in your sleep. You kept saying the word 'escape' on repeat. I had no idea how to bring it up with you and you've been so busy lately with your articles that we haven't even had time to talk," he continued as his hand so thoughtlessly slipped into Pam's. His body language towards her was completely different from how he was with me. With me he was hesitant, calculating, like I was a babe easily scared.

I had no idea what to do or how to take the news that he had been cheating on me for the past six months. I mean, I'm hurt that he was not the man I had thought him to be and that he was unfaithful, but at the same time, I'm glad that he found someone. I no longer had any guilt. I had stopped paying attention to him five minutes ago, so I turned to him, and put up my hands to shut him up.

"It's fine Pete. If anything, I'm so happy you found someone. I had felt so guilty ending things with you like this and so abruptly," I turned to Pam, "Pam, please take good care of him, he clearly adores you, cause he has never caressed me the way he has you. One last thing," I looked Pete dead in the eyes, "you should have told me about my sleep talking. That had nothing to do with you. In all honesty, I think I had known today was going to happen. I know it sounds crazy, but I've had the word escape stuck in my head for a while now," with that, I left them as they were. Packed my things and gave Kat a call once I got into my car. There was nothing more to say. Pete and I were done. That chapter has finally closed.