éphémère |MIXED| [Short Stories]

Till Death Do Us Part

📛TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of physical abuse & blood📛
Soraia

Blood dripped down my legs as I stepped into the bathtub, the once clear water immediately turning crimson red. I knew I wasn't hurt but there was blood. There was no pain though, just a dead body resting in blood water, covered in bruises.

Another trip down the lane... I thought to myself.

My arms went to hug my knees to my chest and I whimpered, my voice being unable to make all the sounds it was meant to make.

I let it happen again as usual no matter how much I wanted it to stop. I was glued to this place forever no matter what anyone told me, I couldn't leave them like this- he needed me.

The sound of the doorbell broke me out of my train of thoughts and I frowned as I realized I was sitting in a pool of my own blood. Without hesitating, I stood to my feet carefully trying to not splash the whole bathroom when I let the water go down the drain. As I opened the shower to rinse my body and wash the blood away with soap, the doorbell rang again prompting me to hurry. I washed the tear stains off my face and scurried to rinse the rest of the soap off my body.

In a moment of rush, I grabbed my bathrobe and rushed downstairs carefully trying to dodge my six year old son's toys that laid on the floor. Just as I was about to open the door, I remembered I hadn't worn a menstrual pad to prevent more blood pools. I went back to my closet to pick some panties and a pad to wear, and headed downstairs.

As I opened the front door, I saw someone walking away but at the sound of the door, they quickly turned back, facing me with a smile.

I watched as a tall figure stared down at me with big dark brown eyes and I inhaled sharply.

"Hi! I hope this isn't a bad time, I just wanted to come introduce myself. I moved in the house across from yours." The stranger smiled at me revealing snowy like teeth, and small box clutched to his chest.

I unvoluntarily winced when I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen reminding me of the events of this morning. I tried my hardest to seem okay in front of him but I was failing miserably.

"Is everything okay?" The stranger tried approaching me but I flinched away out of habit and he quickly retrieved his hand at my gesture, standing as he was previously.

"I'm okay, just a bit tired." I forced a reply hoping to sound convincing.

Before the man could say anything else, my head began to spin and my vision blurred. I felt my body stumble onto a plush-like surface and before long there was...emptiness.

●●●

"I said not again, Soraia."

I gently caressed my husband's arm hoping he'd understand my wishes but deep down I knew I should never expect him to come around this easily.