The Affair (Zauren)

10

Warning: domestic violence in this chapter.

Chapter 10

The kids were now fast asleep as I sat in bed waiting for Justin to arrive.

My eyes soon became very heavy and I drifted off into a light sleep.

3 A.M

I jolt awake when I hear a loud thud from downstairs. I quickly untangle myself from the bedsheets and hurry downstairs.

When I reach the bottom step there was a slight breeze from the chilly night. I tighten my robe and walk over to the open front door and quickly shut and lock it.

I hear a shatter from the kitchen. "Fuck!" I hear Justin shout in frustration.

I furrow my eyebrows and walk into the kitchen. There was glass on the floor where he had dropped the glass. He had a bottle of scotch in his grasp.

I huff running a hand through my hair and bend down to pick up the small shards of glass. I clean up the mess he made and dispose of the glass.

Justin had his head down on the island with the bottle still in his grasp. I sigh and quickly take the bottle out of his hand and place it in a cabinet before he noticed.

He slowly lifted his head, "What the fuck are you doing?" He asks slurring his words.

He stands up from the stool holding onto the island for balance.

"What does it look like I'm doing? You really think I'm going to let you drink more when you're already wasted? Especially when our kids are in the house," I exclaimed. Walking past him to the stairs.

He quickly followed and harshly grabbed ahold of my wrist stopping me from ascending the stairs.

"I can do whatever the fuck I want," He spat tightening his grip on my wrist. I pull on his hand trying to get my wrist free. He pushes me making a loud thud when my back collides with the wall. A gasp leaves my lips at his sudden aggressiveness.

"Justin calm down, you're hurting me," I say softly, tears welling up in my eyes as a couple slid down my cheeks. I look into his dark glassy eyes. This is not the man I know. Not the man I once fell in love with.

I hear whimpering coming from the top of the stairs. My heart immediately drops when I notice it was Brylee. She just witnessed all of this.

"Mommy," she says coming out from behind the wall rubbing at her eyes. "Are you okay?" She asks concern laced in her voice. I look up at her my vision blurry with tears.

Before I could answer Justin yells, "Go back to your room!"

I begin thrashing around in his grasp trying to get to Brylee who had run off to her room.

He grabs a fistful of my hair yanking me back. I whimper, followed by a yelp when his grip tightened.

"Tell her you're fine," He spat letting go of me pushing me up the stairs.

I quickly get back up ignoring the pain and run upstairs to Brylee's room and embrace her in a hug shushing her cries.

"Mom-mommy are you o-okay?" She asks in between hiccups.

"Yea. U-uh we were just um.. playing," I explain running my hand through her hair. I gave her the best excuse my brain could process right now.

"Playing?" She asks looking up at me with furrowed eyebrows.

I nod.

I lay down with her softly humming a song so she could go back to sleep. I kiss her cheek when I hear her soft snores. I lay awake the whole night the events re-playing every time I closed my eyes. Silently crying to myself so I wouldn't wake her.

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