2nd Chance

Chapter 10: Wounds

Seeing Victoria in tears, Jake's frustration boiled over. Instead of offering comfort, he yanked her hair and slapped her across the face. Time froze for Victoria; disbelief clouded her mind. How could he do this? They were supposed to love each other. Despair settled in as she wondered if it was her fault if only she had cooked better, if only she had been more like his mother.

Days passed, and Victoria poured herself into her chores, desperate to please him. She scoured the internet for recipes, trying to replicate dishes that might earn his approval. But no matter how hard she tried, it was never enough. A minor mistake would lead to another slap, another berating. "Can't you do anything right?" he would yell, his voice echoing off the walls like a cruel reminder of her failure. Each blow chipped away at her self-esteem, leaving her feeling small and worthless. The only thing she excelled at was hiding the bruises, and painting on a smile in public while her heart ached in silence. When people asked how she was, she simply replied, "I'm fine." If only they knew the truth behind her facade. 

Whenever they ventured outside together, Jake's dissatisfaction was palpable. He scrutinized her every move, commenting on her attire, her speech, even her laughter. 

"Why do you dress like that? You look like a child," he would sneer, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her appearance. Despite Victoria's natural charm and style, often setting trends among her friends, Jake's words cut deep.

"Can't you just behave for once?" he would bark, drawing stares from passersby. 

Victoria's heart sank, feeling small under his oppressive gaze. Each comment chipped away at her confidence, leaving her feeling like a mere shadow of herself. Gradually, she withdrew from the world. Her wardrobe shifted to drab, ill-fitting clothes that concealed her figure, a visual representation of her internal struggle. She stopped going out, canceling plans with friends and avoiding social gatherings. The laughter that once filled her life faded, replaced by a heavy silence.With isolation came darkness. Victoria spiraled into depression, the weight of her loneliness suffocating. Thoughts of self-harm began to creep in, whispering temptations of release. "Maybe it would be better if I just disappeared," she mused, tears spilling down her cheeks as she sat alone in her dim room. The pain felt insurmountable, and each day became a battle to simply exist. In her mind, she wrestled with the harsh reality that she was losing herself to Jake's relentless criticisms and her own spiraling despair.

All this emotional turmoil began to manifest in physical health issues for Victoria. One day, as she stood in the kitchen cooking, Jake stormed in, his frustration palpable. 

"You're using too much oil!" he yelled, flinging the frying pan across the room. It hit the wall with a loud clang, splattering hot oil that burned her back. Victoria gritted her teeth against the pain, silently enduring it, clinging to the hope that one day he would understand her love.

"I love you too," he whispered, his voice trembling with desperation.

"Who are you talking to? I love you too? You think you can talk to me like that?" Victoria confronted him about a text message he received earlier, where the name "My Love" appeared. "Who is that?" she demanded, feeling her heart race. 

"You can't just say those things to your friends!"

"That's just my buddy! You wouldn't understand!" he shouted, his hand flying out in anger. 

The sharp sting across her cheek made her heart plummet. The next day, their argument spiraled again, forcing them to retreat to separate rooms for the night. As Victoria lay in bed, haunted by her thoughts, a nightmare jolted her awake. Gasping for breath, she peeked into Jake's room to find him sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb him, she crept into bed beside him, hoping to find solace in his presence.

As she settled in, she noticed his phone on the bedside table flashing with a new message. The name read "My Love," and the timestamp showed three hours prior. Her heart sank as a wave of dread washed over her. Victoria's heart raced as she struggled to contain her emotions. Unable to ignore the gnawing suspicion, she cut the call and shook Jake awake, her voice trembling.

 "Who was that person?"Startled, Jake's eyes widened at the sight of his phone in her hand. His demeanor shifted instantly; defensiveness took over. "Give me that!" he snarled, snatching the phone away from her with a violent jerk. In his rage, he swung the device back at her, hitting her forehead with a sickening crack. Victoria stumbled back, pain radiating through her as blood trickled down her face, warm and sticky. She gasped, the shock of what just happened crashing over her. Jake's expression morphed from anger to panic as he realized the gravity of the situation. 

"Oh God, what have I done?" he muttered, his voice laced with fear. Seeing the blood, he suddenly became frantic, grabbing her by the shoulders. 

"You can't die, Vic! If you die, I'll go to prison for murder!" Instead of rushing her to a doctor, he hurried to the bathroom, dampening a cloth with water. He returned, gently pressing it to her forehead. "Stay still," he ordered, his hands shaking as he wrapped a bandage around her head. "Just...don't leave the house, okay? We can't let anyone see you like this."Victoria's heart sank deeper into despair as she processed his words. The blood on her skin felt like a reminder of the twisted reality she was trapped in.