Open Arms

|1| Reunion

A huge banner reading: 10 YEAR REUNION- CLASS OF XXXX was plastered behind the DJ. Old friends were reunited and old beef reignited as the class of XXXX were finally reunited after 10 years. Celebrations were underway and laughter and cheer was shared among many, except the unlucky few and Aniyah happened to be one of them.

Omniscient POV
📍Phoenix High School
9:00pm

Aniyah stared at her husband as he joked and smiled with his old friends. She sat on the sidelines near the bleachers in the dark, away from the spotlight, sipping her water as she stared at his handsome face and how it glistened in the dancing lights, his bruised knuckles that he tried to hide by stuffing his hands into his pockets and his finger with no ring.

She held her bruised face trying to wipe the tiredness off. A black eye peeked through her hands; she had tried so hard to conceal it with makeup. Music boomed into her ears and through her head causing her to hold her head in pain trying to reduce the headache, she felt forming.

She wobbled, trying to hide the pain from the night before, as she got up to go get some more water. " I hope I ain't bleeding" she said to herself as she walked up to the fountain. Her hands shook as she watched the tap pour more water into her cup. This was the most freedom she's had in years.

She had to savour it since there was no way she was gon' get it back home. Thinking of home, her mind trailed to the girls' messy room, the liquor bottles on the couch , and the dirty laundry and dishes that were all waiting for her when she got her back to the house.

She smiled as she thought about her beautiful baby girls. Oh how she loved them so much. But that smile quickly went away when she thought about a boy. A son that her husband wanted so much. One that she had yet to give him. Her body shivered as she thought about the beatings and shouting that always happen when the topic is discussed.

She jolted outta her thoughts when she felt a large smack followed by a sharp pain on her butt. A pair of hands snaked around her waist causing her to freeze in her spot. Shit, she got caught.

"Whatcho fat ass doing here? Didn't I tell you to sit down and stay there" the man behind whispered as his hold on her became increasingly tighter and tighter and tighte- "ow!" She shoot out.

Realising what she did, she quickly covered her mouth."I'm sorr-" She was cut off by him "Ion wanna hear another word outcho mouth. What I tell yo fatass at the start?" She held her silence until he tightly twisting the skin on her side. "I-I was thirsty, I'm sorry. Please just let me have some." He roughly let go of her, shoving her into the water fountain.

"Sit yo ass down" he gritted "and give me that fucking cup" he spat out as he snatched the cup outta her hand. She flinched at the action, knocking the small cone of water onto Trell's $1000 suit. She gasped in horror as she watched the droplets tinkle down onto his Armani shoes.

Aniyah felt her eyes well up as she watched Trell's body fill with anger, not daring to look into his eyes. Her throat began to clog up  and her heartbeat quickened as thoughts of what he was about to do to her ran through her mind.

Her hands began to shake as she attempted to lift them up to clean the mess she made. Trembling in fear, she mustered up the courage to look him in his eyes"I-I-I'm sorry" she uttered out, her mouth trembling in fear.

Beyond pissed, he spat out "Shut the fuck up" His face was twisted with fury. His eyes burned, narrowed into fierce slits and his thick brows knitted together as he thought about what a fucking embarrassment Aniyah was.

Deep veiny lines formed in his forehead as his nostrils flared with each breath with his jaw clenched as he roughly grabbed her arm. He pulled her by the arm out of the room, acting indifferent to the concerned stares by the few who noticed the scene.