Glitter and Grime

Prologue

TRIGGER WARNING: DRUGS, DOMESTIC ABUSE, CHOKING, SEXUAL CONTENT

April 14th, 1975

Aiden

When I get home from work I quickly see Vincent on the couch sleeping. I quietly close the door, carefully making my way into mine and Vincent's bedroom. I try not to wake him because I'm scared of what he might do to me if I do.I walk past him, passed out on the couch with a beer bottle in his hand and lines of cocaine and rolled-up bills covering the table. It's dark when I get into our bedroom, making me bump into the nightstand, making the lamp knock to the ground, the sound echoing off the walls. My eyes shut in fear, waiting for Vincent to come stomping into the room. I think I'm in the clear when a couple of seconds go by.

All of a sudden, I hear the door slam and I know I'm in trouble. Vincent was great at first, but the relationship had its hardships. I even ruined my relationship with my family for him. My father is a senator so when his only son came out as bisexual, he tried to hide it from the press as best as he could. He even sent me to conversion therapy, before Vincent broke me out and we ran away together. That's when our relationship started getting bad, Vincent started going out almost every night, just like tonight.  He leaves me alone at home to get high and then comes back all angry for something I didn't do. When we first met, I knew he did drugs and drank, but it's only gotten worse over the time we've been together.

I get changed into sweatpants and a baggy crop top before cracking open my door to see if he's gone. Once I know for sure that the coast is clear I walk back into the living room to try cleaning up some of this mess. I start with the coffee table, grabbing the credit card scraping the cocaine into baggies, and putting them away. After I finish picking up the rest of the living room, I turn on The Great Gatsby. The next thing I know, I'm startled awake by a door slamming, followed by things being rummaged through and thrown around, signifying that Vincent has made his way home and that I should prepare myself for a night of fighting.

I'm lying on the couch, pretending to still be asleep when he walks past me into our bedroom, as I had done earlier that night.

"Aiden!" He screams, stomping into the living room.

Shit.

I stay still, hoping he sees that I'm sleeping and leaves me alone for the night. I'm too exhausted to get into it with him. My plan doesn't work, I feel his rough hands grabbing my shoulder and pulling me off of the couch onto the floor. He has me pinned down by my throat I open my eyes to see his face red with anger. I rack my brain, thinking of what I could have done to make him angry. Nothing comes to mind. I've been on my best behavior in an attempt not to set him off.

"Where the fuck is my coke!" He screams in my face, spit flying from his mouth onto my face. I should have known that's why he was so pissed by the bloodshot look in his eyes. He always gets like this when he's feening for more when he's coming down from his high.

"I-I cleaned it up, I put it where I usually do." I choke out, tears streaming down my face.

"How many times have I told you not to touch my fucking shit Aiden!" He slams his hands down on the ground next to my head, making me flinch.

"I'm sorry baby. I won't do it again. I promise. Please, Vincent, just let me go." He does as I ask, yanking me from the floor to my knees. He unbuttons his pants and pulls them down. I know what's coming.

"Be a good boy and suck it."

I open my mouth, teasing the tip of his cock with my tongue and he lets out a throaty groan. I slip my mouth down the length of the shaft until it hits the back of my throat, making me gag. I wrap my hand around what doesn't fit and Vincent grabs my hair, pushing me down farther.

"Fuck Aiden, that feels so fucking good. Such a good slut for my cock." His head rolls back and his fingers tangle in my hair, gripping it even harder. I bob my head taking more of his length in my mouth causing Vincent's cock to hit the back of my throat. Trying not to gag I continue pumping my hand around the rest of his cock.

He takes me by surprise by pulling my head back and throwing me off of the bed. I land on my stomach, Vincent crawling towards me quickly. He hovers over me before sliding a condom on and entering me with a hard thrust which earned a stifled moan from my lips.

"Yeah, that's right baby. Moan for me. Show me how good you take my cock." He grunts, pulling my hair so my back meets his chest and placing gentle kisses down my neck. This. This is why I've stayed with him as long as I did. Because even tho he has his issues and can be a total jackass, I want to believe deep down he really does love me. His thrusts become sloppy, making it known that he's close. It's not long until he's coming and collapsing on top of me.

I notice that he's passed out and I quietly slide out from underneath him and make my way to the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror, seeing a worn-down shell of the man I once was. I can see the bruises forming around my neck already. I grab the concealer that I have hidden for these occasions and cover them up. I feel tears fall down my cheeks before quickly wiping them away.

You deserve better than this. A small voice in my head says. It's right. I do deserve better than this. I've done everything for him. I've given up my relationship with my family, I don't nag him about his addiction, hell, I fucking support his addiction while he gets to sit on his ass getting high all fucking day.

I need to get out and go somewhere he can never find me. Rage courses through my body and without thinking, I make my way out of the bathroom and to our closet, grab my suitcase, and start packing everything I can fit in it. I thank whatever god is up there that Vincent is a heavy sleeper, especially when he's been doing drugs because I can do this without waking him up. After filling it up as much as I can I zip it up. I grab my phone and wallet and I place my key on the kitchen counter. I make my way to the door and step out into the hall of the apartment, closing the door behind me without looking back.

________________________

I've been driving for a while now and my eyes are starting to get heavy so I find the nearest motel and check in for the night. I think I saw a sign saying I had arrived in New Mexico so at least I've made it out of Oklahoma and my worry that Vincent is going to find me has lessened but hasn't gone completely away. I enter my room and place my suitcase on the table that's to the right of the door. I get a whiff of myself and decide I should take a quick shower and then get a few hours of sleep before hitting the road again.

By the time I fall asleep, it's about 4 in the morning. I set the alarm clock that's next to the bed for 7 thinking three hours should be enough to get me to California.

The loud alarm jolts me awake, I get up and change before heading back out on the road. After a few more hours of driving, I come across a rest stop and pull over to stretch my legs and have one of the snacks I got at the motel vending machine. I sit down at the picnic table and open my bag of chips and drink. I finish up my chips and get back on the road. I only have about 4 more hours until I get to California. My mind trails to Vincent as I'm throwing my garbage away. I wonder if he's noticed I left yet and if so, is he looking for me? Is he pissed? Did he destroy the apartment? I shake the thoughts away and turn up the radio, letting "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac fill my car. I laugh at the irony of this song playing as I'm driving to escape my old life and start a new one.

I just hope this is all worth it.