To the Grave

Chapter three.

HIS MENACING SMILE catches my full attention, "you can't leave me Arabella," he laughs dryly "there's no way I would let you go," he spits as his grip tightens on my waist.

     I shift, uncomfortable at the fact that his nails begin to dig deeper into my fresh skin, surely leaving new bruises for the morning.

     "Reuben," I squirm "you're drunk, let's talk about this tomorrow so-" my tired reply falls short when his sloppy lips meets mine, his alcoholic breath fanning my cheek as he moves along my jaw, bile slowly rising up the back of my throat. It's disgusting-he isn't the same man I married three years ago.

     I shove him off me as I take a step back, wiping my mouth in the process, "what the hell is your problem!" I snarl "I say I want a divorce and you do that?" My lip curling up in distaste at his appearance; shirt untucked, jeans hung loosely, disheveled hair swept across his face, and let's not forget his main accessory; the beer bottles scattered around the room for the third time this week. He truly is a vile creature, "you never and I mean never force yourself upon me like that again," I manage to croak out as the unpleasant image replays and replays behind my vacant eyes. I'm so exhausted.

     Reuben takes a daring step forward his eyes, black as charcoal "you ungrateful bitch" he hisses, my eyes widening at his tone. "I won't let you leave me. I've done everything for you, I'm the one you rely on, I'm the one who's always there for you. You can't leave me. I'm all you've got!" He roars, his raspy voice reverberating throughout the room.

     I stammer, "I-I'll manage just fine w-without you Reuben."

     He snaps. A beer bottle flies past my head, narrowly missing by just a few inches. It smashes against the wall, glass shattering everywhere around me. My arms raises in defence to block the shards of flying glass. My pleas for him to stop fall on death ears. His hand reaches out to the kitchen counter on his right and grabs the first thing he finds; The Knife. His controlling demeanour shooting straight towards me as he begins striking me with it again and again and again.

     I glance down as my petite body collapses to the floor, the end is inevitable and with that thought in mind, I finally give up and let the crimson liquid pour from me through every crevice. His eyes widen as it dawns on him the action he just carried out, he mutters profanities under his breath as he drops the knife to run his hands through his black hair.

     "I'm so sorry Arabella," he cries "I don't know what came over me, I can't bear the thought of you with another man, living without me." He kneels by my side "please forgive me baby," he pleads as I try to focus my blurry sight, my eyes growing heavier "I love you Arabella." He whispers.

     Every inch of hate I've stored for him over the years is finally let rampage as the words bubble at the back of my throat, replying in a hoarse voice I let the words echo throughout the silent room, "and I...I hate you." Tears slip from my glazed eyes and only one blink later the darkness is already overtaking me as I plummet into deaths arms.

     11:17pm was my time of death. I had died. I didn't get to see him scoop my body up into his arms. I didn't get to see him lower me into his car trunk. I didn't get to see him shove me into an alleyway with my empty handbag, framing it to look like a disastrous mugging.

I didn't expect to see him there, but there he was, at my funeral free of handcuffs because no one will ever know, that I took his secret to the grave.

• • • • • •

A/N: bonjourrrr here is the last chapter of arabella's story. i'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone for reading this and i hope you enjoyed the short adventure it took you on. also there will be a bonus chapter in reuben's pov.

although arabella didn't suffer from domestic abuse i'd like to leave these numbers here because there are people who live in similar situations where their partner is violent. throughout the short story i did think of adding a deeper element where it wasn't the first time reuben had hit her, however i had decided that to get thorough detail of the situation i would have to write a novel/novella and also because i didn't have much time to write it as this story was originally for a competition and it had a deadline which like most, wasn't very long.

0800 970 2070 - UK
60777 (text 'NCDV') - UK
1-800-799-7233 - USA
1-800-787-3224 (TTY) - USA
604-875-0885 - Canada
1-800-563-0808 (TTY) - Canada

these are just SOME of the helplines for anyone who is suffering from domestic violence and is too scared to open up to a family member or a friend. even if i haven't put the number for your country up there please just search helplines in your area!

seek guidance.
you are not alone.
stay strong.

megan.

[edited: 23/11/17]