Emma

Part 1.1

As soon as the door opened, Emma knew she was in for her worst evening after two hellish weeks.

She had misgivings when she crossed the threshold and looked around for her husband.

"What time do you call this? Where were you?" Denis asked, grabbing her arm as soon as the door closed.

"You're hurting me. Let me go," Emma said. "I went shopping."

He snatched the bag she carried and opened it.

"Where is my pack of beers?" Denis growled. "I told you I ran out, damn it!"

"No ... I..."

"What?" He shouted and hurled her against the wall.

Denis's brutal movement and aggressive bearing deeply shocked her. Tension between them was particularly obvious lately. Denis was always drunk when she came home from work, especially those last few days. His behavior had changed. He was now confrontational and no longer refrained from violence.

Emma tried to move away, but he held her back, grabbing her by the top of her T-shirt. He clung to his wife, blocking her with his whole body.

"When are you going to do what I'm asking, huh?" he snarled at her.

Emma was trapped and could only turn her head away. Obviously, her husband had had a lot to drink. It was still early evening but already he looked as if he could not control himself anymore. Emma was panic-stricken, her heart was pounding in her chest. He grabbed her chin with an iron grip and forced her to face him. He crushed his mouth on her lips, his tongue seeking hers brutally. Emma held out and gritted her teeth.

"Loosen up. I want you. There, go ahead and kiss me," he said, rubbing against her body.

Emma felt disgusted as she could see how aroused her husband was. He couldn't control himself anymore. She gathered all her strength and pushed him back enough to pull away. He slapped her in the face with all his might. Her skull hit the wall, and the next blow twisted her head. She slid to the ground, stunned.

Denis caught her by her collar and spit in her face.

"You're mine, do you hear? You're not allowed to push me back." He tore off her clothing in a sharp movement and threw her down.

"Stop, Denis, please, stop!" Emma said, begging and crying, still shell-shocked.

"Shut up! You disgust me!" he barked and raised his hand again.

Emma instantly shielded her face. She caught her breath when a fierce kick hit her in the stomach. Cowering on the ground, she waited in fear for the next move.

"You don't deserve me, bitch!"

The door slammed, marking the end of her ordeal, one of the most violent Emma had undergone yet. Her heart was pounding in her temples, her lip was swollen, and her mouth now tasted of blood. She collapsed and began to cry her eyes out.

***

Several hours later, Emma found herself standing in the driveway leading to her brother's house. She had resolved to take shelter at Nicolas's but had not yet dared to knock on his door.

She started and froze when she heard a voice nearby.

Alex had watched her carefully for a moment before she decided to call out. Despite the season, Emma wore a long cardigan that reached to her knees. Her arms were folded, holding it tightly against her chest.

Alerted by her bearing, Alex approached slowly and faced her.

"Emma? It's Alex. Is everything OK?"

Emma hadn't expected to see her brother's friend so soon, even though she knew crossing paths with her would be unavoidable as her brother and Alex were joined at the hip since childhood. She felt even more unsettled to meet her now, after so many years and under those circumstances. Unable to look up, she didn't move, didn't speak.