forget-me-not

Chapter 2

When I wake up in the morning, my cheek and eye hurt more than my head. Not only am I shocked that he hit me, but he did it at a party in front of all of our friends. Jane walked me home to my house last night. She offered to stay, but I wanted nothing more than to be alone. She helped me ice my eye before she went home. I get up to get myself ready for a day on the couch after the night I've had. I decide to take a look at my face. It looks as bad as it feels. I can see it start to bruise around my eye and my cheek is pink and swollen. I graduate with my master's in a week, if this is still there I'll be so upset. I've been wearing long sleeve shirts or cardigans for the last year because of the constant bruises. All thanks to Danny and now I have a new one. I let out a big sigh and throw on a hoodie.

It's not like I want to put up with this behavior. I know I don't deserve it, but it's hard when he doesn't leave me alone. When I try breaking up with him, he just gets more drunk and hooks up with another girl, then begs me on my porch for hours. He never goes away and he never stops calling. I don't know what I'm going to do when Jake comes home.

An hour into sulking on my couch my phone starts to ring. I look down and see Jake calling me to video chat. Without hesitation I hit answer and keep the camera on the side of my face that isn't bruised.

"How's my pretty girl?" Jake asks excitedly.

"Oh stop, hi." I answer, a smile plastered on my face.

"How was the party last night?" He asks.

"You know, same old same old."

"I'm glad you made it home safe."

"You know Jane wouldn't allow me not to," I tease. "How are you?"

"You know, same old same old," He teases back. "What's wrong over there?"

"Nothing, just tired." I lie, sort of.

"Madeline." He says. I roll my eyes and take my phone to the kitchen.

"We're going to make some muffins." I smile at the camera. I set my phone down and grab what I need around the kitchen.

"Madeline." He says in a more stern tone. I spin around to face the camera.

"Yes, sir?" I joke. My smile fades when I see a serious look on his face. I freeze and realize I wasn't covering my face.

"That son of a bitch is lucky I'm not home yet." He mutters. I'm still standing in the same spot, too scared to move.

"It was just a misunderstanding." I finally say.

"The giant bruise on your eye was a misunderstanding?"

"That's not fair."

"Fair? Do not get me started on what's fair."

"I'm sorry." I whisper. My eyes tear up as I pick up the phone and only show half of my face again.

"I'm coming home soon, for good. I really hope I don't run in to him." He whispers. I knew the day was coming, but I didn't know how soon. Now I want to cry happy tears.

"Do you know when?"

"You know how it works, not exactly and I can't really tell you," He gives me a sorry look. "But I'll be home."

I hold onto those words for the rest of the afternoon once we hang up the phone.

After eating dinner, I hear noises coming from my porch and let out a big sigh. I just wish he would leave me alone. He's done enough and I wish he would see that. I look through the peephole in my door and see him holding himself up on the railing, saying my name over and over. My neighbors probably think I'm a problem. I crack my door open, still holding ice on my eye, and peer out.

"Please go home, Danny." I tell him. He lifts his head up and stumbles to my door.

"Babe, please. I didn't mean to."

"Which part? Punching me or hooking up with another girl?"

"All of it! You know I love you. I can't live without you. Let me come inside." He pleads, holding onto the house like if he doesn't he'll blow away.

"How did you get here anyway? You reek of alcohol there's no way you drove."

"I walked."

"From where? Are you crazy?"

"Chill, from Carly's!"

"How could she possibly let you in her house again?"

"First of all, she didn't. I had to stay in the backyard." He laughs.

"Does this look funny to you?" I ask, showing him the bruise he left on my face. He gets serious for a moment and stares at me. He looks like he didn't think punching me would leave a mark.

"Fuck. I didn't know that you looked like that because of me." He starts to cry as he sloppily paces on my porch.

"I don't want you here, please go."

"This is what we do, come on, I can't go. You can't let me go, you're mine. I can't live without you." He tells me. I wince and stare at him for what feels like an hour.

"You can sleep on my couch, and then you're gone in the morning."

"Thank you Madeline, oh my gosh, thank you." He slides himself in between me and the front door. I shut and lock the door, already regretting my decision. He makes it to my couch and passes out within thirty seconds. I throw a blanket on him and get into my bed. I can't sleep knowing he's out there.

Halfway through the night, I hear him get up from the couch and my hands start to shake and my heart begins to race. He saunters into my bedroom and whispers my name. I don't answer. He climbs into my bed and wraps his arm around me. I'm facing the wall opposite of my door, so I at least don't see his face. He moves my hair behind my ear and begins kissing my neck. I try not to move. He does this every week, too. And I give in every week because if I don't, I'm covered in more bruises. I let him do what he wants and I preoccupy my mind with Jake. The only thing that gets me through the entire night is knowing that Jake will be home.

Thankfully when I wake in the morning, Danny is gone.