Inhuman

I love you

I moved boxes around my office. I had to get a new job after what happened at my old one. I don't really want to get into it but I just want to say I definitely didn't quit!

I opened some of the boxes, papers- papers-

A photo.

I picked it up. It was a photo of me and her. I saw her smiling, faking her happiness. And I saw myself... bruised. I flipped it over, September 16th. That date why do I remember that date so clearly...

I studied the image some more, tracing over lines, small details- whatever I could.

September 16- what did that mean?

Oh god.

I ran to the car park, the photo crumbled in my hand. I ripped my car door open and quickly sat down. My breath grew louder and louder filling the car. It felt like I was drowning.

My brain flashes between memories upon memories. All fuzzy but just enough to light a spark.

I see myself there, with her. I sat with her and her friends. She never talked to me in public, and had threatened me before on talking to her friends. I was nothing but a show piece for her. I was nothing but proof that someone could love her.

I remember the day I fell out of love. It was a week after we got together. She had sat me down on her bed. She stood in front of me, cigarette in hand.

"I didnt appreciate how you acted today"

"I'm sorry- I didn't know, really!"

"Speak when told to you dumbass!"

She burned me. She burned my skin. I think this is when it started. I guess something about how I cowarded at her punches, flinched when she'd yell at me, and how I cried every time she'd yell at me awoke something in her. Made her feel powerful.

Everyday I'd come home, and just sit in my bathroom and cry.

I was always covered in cuts and bruises she gave me, burns she gave me.

One night I guess physically and mentally hurting me wasn't enough and she-