In Memoriam ✓

Chapter Three: Good Days

Mallory

After Brent assaulted me in the alleyway, I ignored him for a week. Every time I thought about the blind fear I experienced that day, rage enveloped all my senses. I was far past frustration with him.

That night opened my eyes to the violence in our relationship. Brent blindsided me for long enough. I was finally determined to free myself from my boyfriend's vice; in spite of myself, I wondered if this particular ball and chain was too strong to escape.

When Brent started emotionally abusing me in our relationship, it was easy to excuse his behavior. He was going through a difficult time, but he would change eventually. But this was beyond excuses. He hit me. Even if it wasn't with his own hands, he was so angry that he tried to cause physical harm to me.

We never broke up in person, but I felt it was only right for me to break the news harshly to Brent. He wouldn't listen, otherwise. My parting message to Brent was a single text, reminiscent of something in a movie: It's over. 

I watched warily over the next few days for an assault squad waiting for me or something similar, but Brent never spoke a word to me again. I saw him in school, but he avoided me at all costs.

I tried to distance myself from Reid. I was scared of how much he cared about me in such a short time. Barely a few days into our budding friendship, Reid texted me frequently to check on me. I replied as succinctly as I could. It was only a week since I met him, but he cared so much already.

I realised that my subtle guilt didn't matter. Reid and I fit each other perfectly as friends and confidants. That was special.

So I texted Reid one day, asking if he wanted to get coffee with me. He confirmed yes, and said he was happy I asked him. Reid's transparency with his emotions was unfamiliar to me. He bore his heart open to whoever wanted it. That was unusual, in a busy city like ours, where people needed to be selfish to extricate what they wanted from their lives. Reid gave what he could freely.

I waited anxiously in the coffee shop, staring at the bright sunshine outside. Sunny weather always made me feel better.

"Hey, stranger." 

I looked away from the window at Reid. He pulled out the chair opposite mine and sat down, keeping his dark eyes fixed on mine. I couldn't stop the smile from surfacing on my mouth, and Reid's mouth tipped upwards at the corners as he watched me.

"Hi. It's been a while." I offered, watching as Reid hung his jacket over the back of his chair.

"Too long." Reid joked, stretching out his long legs. He nudged the blocky heel of my sandal with his sneaker, and a laugh bubbled out of me. He chuckled with me, pushing his hair back with his hand. "How are you? What's been going on in your life?"

My smile faded. I inhaled shakily and clasped my hands together, wondering how to frame my problems. "A lot. Most of it bad."

Reid leaned forwards in his chair, his brow creased with concern and confusion. "You can tell me." he told me softly, his brown eyes piercing into mine. 

Reid was unrelenting against my crumbling façades. I should've known better than to think I stood a chance.

I swallowed lightly, touching the hem of the tablecloth to calm myself down. "You know how I'm dating Brent?"

"Of course." Was I imagining the bitter edge to Reid's voice?

"I think we're going to break up." I admitted. My voice came out smaller and quieter than I anticipated.

Reid straightened in his chair, his expression sobering. "I didn't know."

I lowered my eyes to cover up the tears filming my eyes. "Yeah, it's not something I've been advertising. But I felt like you should know." I covered up the resulting jolt of pain with another laugh.