Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 2

Later that night 2 nurses came in asking questions about what Deshaun had said. I insist that Tyrese hadn't hit me or ever had. "So what happened to your eye?", Sarah pried. "I aready told you I bumped it on the wall" I shoot back with an attitude. This pudgy blue eyed bitch is really starting to get on my damn nerves. She and the other nurse exchange glances. "LOOK I fucking fell the day after I bumped into the wall, now mind your own damn business I'm done repeating myself!" Red head nervously responds, "Aright ma'am, I understand. I will be back in the morning with your prescriptions and discharge forms." I roll my eyes at fat ass when she  hesitates to leave with the other one.

At 9 am The red head, returned with the discharge papers. I grabbed them and quickly scribbled my signature and put my prescriptions into my jacket pocket. After getting dressed I check my phone. 4 Missed calls 8 Unread texts. 3 calls and all of the texts are from Rachelle, My best friend of 12 years. 

She taught me everything I know about working at Steckelbrook Elementary, she was my only bridesmaid and the person that took me to the hospital the first time Tyrese left me unconscious in my apartment.  I pray the substitutes haven't fucked up my lesson plans.

 After dropping my prescriptions off at the pharmacy. The main thing on my mind is making Tyrese his favorite meal to make up to him, he's always calmest after he's full. I head to the grocery store and hurry to get what I'm looking for. As soon as I make it to the checkout line , Someone I never expected to see is standing behind me. Someone I've been sworn enemies with since our childhood.

"April..." I greet sarcastically. "Heyyy girll!!!, I thought I recognized you, she screeches with her raspy voice." I quickly put on my sunglasses before turning around. "How you been?" I respond while skimming across the scene behind her.  She pays no mind to the 3 little boys fighting in front of the beverages. Or the 2 little girls racing through the aisles on the backs of shopping carts. "I'm doing just wonderful as you can see, she nearly sings, striking a pose in her gold lace Versace dress and red bottoms. "Hurry Up! " I glance down, beside her is a boy who looks about six, he has dreads and earrings and a scowl on his face. He's holding a small baby. "Are they all yours?", I ask, before putting the rest of my things into a bag. She smacks her lips and snaps back, "No I'm just a babysitter. what the fuck you think?"

"OK, you don't gotta catch an attitude but whatever, have a nice day" I claim, before walking towards the exit. I look back to see her cursing the children, she flips her weave then rolls her eyes at me. I pray I never have to deal with her brats in my class.

When I get in the house my phone starts ringing off the hook. I put down the groceries on the counter and swipe my screen to answer. "Deshaun told me that fool got yo got yo ass in the hospital again!! What the fuck Nicki, You need to leave him. I'm sick of him beatin' the shit out of you and you tolerating it!" Rachelle screams. "First of all Deshaun needs to mind his own damn business! Tyrese is MY husband I know him better than either of you and if I wanna work through our problems I can do that!", I retort. "Girl whatever, you gone make excuses for that nigga until it's too late. By then ain't nobody gone wanna help you, And I can't help nobody that acts like they don't need my help 'til the last minute. You need to get out of that situation, I'ma pray you figure that out before he hurts you too bad.", She confides. "I'm fine, I know what I'm doing, you need to just calm down and figure out why you're single", I joke.

As we're laughing, I hear keys in the door. Panicking I hang up the phone and rush to get out the dishes. A dark figure drags in and immediately the room fills with the stench of hard alcohol. Fear fills every inch of my body because it's clear he's the farthest thing from sober. He stands outside the kitchen, leaning against the wall. I shakily put the steak into the oven, feeling the hairs stand on my neck as he watches me. "Nicki, Nicki, Nickikiki..." he chuckles. A sinister smile spreads across his face as he walks toward me.  He starts to slur "I heard you laughing. who was you on the phone with?". My heart begins to pound, "it was Rachelle baby she called to check on me you know how she is". I claim, trying my best to convince him to believe me. "Bullshit! You been talkin' to that fuck boy again huh?!" , he yells. "No, I swear, I was in the middle of making your favorite, steak and potatoes". I plead while backing into the bathroom. Its the only room in the hosue with a lock on the door.

He takes another step toward me. "I don't know why you choose to disrespect me, after all I've done for you?! I try my hardest to keep a fucking roof over our head and this how you repay me? BY FUCKIN THAT NIGGA!", he screams the lunges at me. I dodge him and start running for the front door. Before I know it my hair is being ripped from my scalp, my neck jerks back as I feel his grip tighten on my hair. Tears stream down my face as I search for sympathy in his bloodshot eyes. Whatever was there when we met is long gone.