Tomorrow's Promise

Move to The City and Start a New Life

***
"Jackson, will you stop and talk to me?" I screamed.

He walks away from me ignoring every word. He pauses at the front door, fumbling with his keys, the anger oozing from him, curse words falling from his lips. He opens the front door and makes his way inside, his white button-up shirt slinging off of his shoulders and the tuxedo jacket I picked out hours before still hugging his muscles. He stops and drops his keys on the side table by the front door. Silence fills the room, the space between us getting smaller and smaller. The smell of alcohol on his breath makes me sick to my stomach.

"Why couldn't you just be quiet for once, that was my chance for my promotion, but no you just had to fucking ruin my night." He yelled. "My night not yours Addie." He continued.

"I-I'm sorry, I thought I was help-" I tried to say.

"I don't fucking need help, especially not from you." He said gripping my arms tighter and tighter. I try to wiggle my way out, but when he's drunk he is much stronger.

"Stop, please you're hurting me." I cried out.

He leads his hand up to my throat, and he wraps his hand around my throat and then he gently squeezes.

"Jackson, wh-what are you do-"

He begins to squeeze harder, I know I won't manage to get out of his grip, I try to fight him back, but there is no way of getting out of this, all I can do is pray that he won't choke me to death. He finally let go of me and I fell to the ground holding my throat and coughing.

"Next time don't piss me off." He said turning the lights off and walking upstairs, leaving me alone in the dark.

***

I wake up sweating and holding my throat trying to catch my breath. I always have nightmares. I can never have one night where I sleep through the whole night. I get up and walk to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. I walk towards my living room and sit the bottle down, grab my book and sit down to relax, I can never go back to bed after the nightmares.

Moving to New York has made me realize how peaceful life truly is when not a single person you see knows you or knows what's going on in your life. I'm not free yet, I'm terrified that he will be looking for me. I stare out into my window from my apartment in Manhattan, the beautiful scenery is breathtaking. I keep thinking of all the things I have endured those past few years with my so-called husband. I just wish I escaped from him, hoping he will never find me. I shake my head, thinking that if I deny the inevitable enough, that maybe just maybe I can finally be free of him. I looked at the time on my watch and noticed that I was going to be late for work. I put my book down and went to get ready for work, I hurried and rushed out of my apartment and locked my door. Once I get out of my apartment building I rush to the other side of the block, knowing I will be at least four minutes late, but it's okay because the manager is my only friend I have here in New York. I walk in and notice Annie is by the receptionist area, She sees me and points to her watch.

"I know, I forgot I had to work this early." I said walking towards her, giving her a hug. "Hey how is Jess doing?" I asked, taking her spot from the desk.

"Still the same." She says, exhausted.

Her daughter is finally in that stage where they have a bedtime routine and she hates it. I am always babysitting Jess when I'm not working and It is a hassle trying to get her to bed. So I can tell how she is feeling. A couple comes in and Annie tells me we will finish the conversation tonight over dinner at her place. I love my job, the pay is amazing and when I get off work I always have food waiting for me on the counter. Annie is the only person that knows about my past and she has always been here for me ever since I moved to New York. If it wasn't for her I don't know where I would be right now. After a long day at work, and I mean long I was there morning till closing, Annie and I are the only ones left.