Stuck on Repeat

Chapter 2: Counseling

Sarah's POV

"That's when it all started.

I tried to maintain my smile, but I guess Danny saw through my guise. As I reached the alter, I handed my bouquet to Emily and placed myself next to my groom.

The priest began, 'Dearly beloved, we are...'

'Danny...Where are your parents..?' I muttered.

He stared at his shoes. 'I'm sorry' was all he could muster.

I felt disappointed obviously but I knew Danny couldn't do anything about it. His parents have always been stubborn and they never liked the idea of their son getting married to someone like me."

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I pause. I don't know what to say next. Thinking about the past brought back so many emotions and memories that I've repressed. I hold back the tears that come from each silent fight, each lonely night in bed and every bottle of wine emptied. When we've only been married for 7 months, how did we end up at marriage counseling?

Suddenly, Marie breaks the silence, "Can you tell me more about his parents? Why didn't they like you?"

Marie is our counselor. She's probably in her 60's and looks very old fashioned. Because to her age, one might assume she's had plenty of experience in marriage.

"Daniel came from a very wealthy and influential family. His father is a founding partner at the biggest law firm in New York City. Being an only child, his parents were incredibly protective of him. They had high hopes for him. They had his future planned for him ever since he was a baby. He was their sweet little boy... that is until he decided to marry me.

You see, my mother raised me on her own with my grandmother. My father left me when I was just a baby, but I don't really mind much. My mother was amazing but nevertheless, she was a typical single mother, working 2 jobs to take care of me. I grew up differently than Danny. Instead of private schools and trust funds, I grew up in a multi-family house, going to public schools until I had to work 2 jobs like my mom to get into college.

Because of that, Danny's parents didn't think I was worthy of their son. After we got married, Danny's parents cut him off. They wouldn't answer our calls, or even acknowledge our existence. Danny was fired from his father's firm and got an office job. Things went downhill from that point."

Marie scribbles something down on her little notepad before crossing her legs and asking me a question I didn't expect.

Danny's POV

"Why are you here?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded. "Aren't you supposed to tell me that?" I ask her, before chucking to ease the tension.

"Well you must have a reason for coming to me today."

I actually don't know what to say. I lean back in my chair and think but nothing comes to mind.

"Well how about this, tell me about your most recent fight."

I rack my brain trying to remember what happened.

"Well, I had just come home from work and I'm tired. It's 10:00 and I haven't eaten anything since noon. I expected to see my wife in the kitchen making dinner for her hungry husband, but instead she's lying on the couch, fast asleep. I mean, she doesnt even have a job. She doesn't do anything all day but sleep and eat and waste my money.

So I drop my stuff on the floor and grudgingly walk over to her. 'What happened to dinner?' I say, pretty annoyed. She turns around and faces me, half asleep. She mumbles, '...what?'
At this point, I start to get angry. With my hands crossed, I begin my rant, 'I come home, hungry, expecting a nice meal but instead I find you sleeping on the fucking couch? How lazy are you?'

Then she says something along the lines of 'I called you but you didn't answer' or 'it's too late for dinner.'

Then it just lead to more crap like every other fight. She just drives me insane. She's so lazy. I don't even understand how a human being is this lazy. Do you see this?"

I point towards at forehead, showing her my hairline. "It's receding. I'm 26 and my becoming bald and it's all because of the stress she's giving me. If I have to deal with her nonsense one more time, I'll kill myself."

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Sarah's POV

"Why are you here?"

"To fix my marriage?" I reply with caution.

"Is that a question?" She says, raising one eyebrow. I can feel her judging me.

"No! Um....I'm just not sure of what you're asking."

"Then how about this... Do you love him?"

Immediately, I answer, "Yes, of course! I love Danny. I hate him, but I love him."

For some unknown reason, I feel myself getting very angry. I clench my fists and start breathing much more heavily. I think about our last fight that's when I explode.

"Look, I've done nothing wrong. He's constantly pointing out the fact that I don't have a job and that I spend all of his money. I've suggested getting a job but he tells me not to worry because he can support us. He doesn't even let me have a social life. Do you know what happened the last time I went out with my friends? As soon as I came home and he started accusing me of flirting with guys and cheating on him. He even made me deactivate my social media accounts. His reasoning: I'm the only person you need in your life"

At this point, I'm standing and angrily pacing around my chair. My hair is flying left and right as I spit out my rage.

"He thinks I do nothing all day. Who cleans the apartment? Who cooks and washes the dishes? Who buys the groceries? Who does the fucking laundry? I do. Then I have to deal with his bullshit. Not to mention his parents. I know he regrets marrying me and that he misses his horrible mother. I dropped out of college because of him. I replaced all of my hopes and dreams with the single goal of simply starting a new life with my loving husband. And this is what I get. I can't take this anymore."

I stop for a second and realize where I am. I'm standing behind my chair, clenching a beaten pillow that I have been smashing this entire time. I look at Marie and she is just ... horrified.

"I'm sorry... Um...I'm just gonna go." I say as grab my purse before rushing out the door.

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Thank you so much for reading!
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Just a thank you to those who left a comment in chapter 1. I was lacking motivation to write but you guys really helped!

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