Still Breathing

Chapter 19: Fast Car

Marley Pov present day 2022

"While I'm gone, I expect you to be on your best behavior. No wandering off. no visitors. And I left your meal plan for the week on the fridge." Stephen stands over me as I pack his clothes for him. its been almost 3 weeks since the incident and he is mostly healed. He is out of his cast, but he still walks with a cane now.

The last few weeks was a nice vacation from him torturing me.

"Don't fold it like that. it will leave a crease." Stephen points to the shirt I just placed in the suitcase.

I pull out the last 3 shirts I just folded and re-fold them while praying for fucking patience. Just 15 more minutes and he will be gone for a week. I manage to make it the last 3 weeks without him hurting me, I can get through the last 15 minutes. I roll up the shirts neatly and place them back into the suitcase all for him to empty out the suitcase as soon as I go into the closet to grab him a few socks.

We begin arguing about socks and it ends with him griping me just above the elbow roughly and pushing me onto the bed. he calls me useless among other things and I just sit and watch him spend an extra 20 minutes repacking his suitcase. Something he could've done from the start.

When he finally leaves I breath a huge sigh of relief. I walk through the empty penthouse taking in the calm envirment now that he is gone. As I walk through this house, I think about how much I hate this place. I miss my old apartment. I miss my old life. A lump forms in my throat as I think about the memories that were made here and the fact I will be expected to raise children here with that man. the thought makes me sick.

I feel myself wanting to spiral, so I start to focus on why I'm doing this. My sacrifice protects my family and most importantly my sister. I squeeze my eyes shut as I collapse onto my knees in the middle of the kitchen hyperventilating. My eyes are burning but I focus on my family. They are happy and safe. as long as I do this, they will continue to be safe.

I swallow the bile in my throat and take a few more breaths to slow my heart. Once I don't feel like I'm gonna pass out or throw up, I get up and go into the bathroom and strip. I run the bathtub and while I wait, for the first time in a while, I stare at my reflection. For once, in the last few years, I didn't have a bruise on my body. I shake my head at the bruise forming on my arm. I examine it for a few minutes before walking over to the tub and getting in.

I slip completely under the hot water and when I come back up, I rest my face on the side of the tub. I let the sound of the dripping water and the heat soothe me. I don't get out until the water is cold.

I slip on some shorts and a tank top and let my hair dry to its natural state for once. I turn on some music as I sit at the vanity and play with my hair. trying to imagine how it would look if I were able to do what I wanted with it. Stephen would throw a fit if I were to get a pixie cut or god forbid shave it off.

I get up and head to the kitchen to see what is on the menu for lunch today. I frown when I see, it's a salad with very light dressing and boiled chicken. I pull the plate out of the fridge and set it on the counter. I grab myself a glass of water and just as I'm about to sit, there is a knock at the door.

How the fuck is people getting past front desk. I roll my eyes. I don't need this shit today. I debate whether I should answer the door. the knock the second time is harder and more determined. So I go to answer it, but when I get to the door, I remember the last uninvited visitor and how all that went down. I can hear Stephens voice reminding me, no visitors.

I turn to walk away when the person knocks again. torn, I give in, and open the door. imagine my relief and surprise when I see its Nat.

She smiles at me as soon as our eyes meet. I step forward into her arms and we hug without saying a word for several minutes. Finally I say, "I wondered how long it would be before you turned up."