The Love Trials: Ashley

Chapter Eleven

WARNING. VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL REFERENCES THROUGHOUT. MAY BE TRIGGERING

Around lunchtime, I made myself a cheese sandwich and found a packet of ready salted crisps. As I ate, I texted my friends to let them know my discoveries from Jackson about Cathy. None of them texted back but I knew that they would be busy with work.

I washed away all traces of my lunch and went back to bed where I hoped Bradley wouldn't know I was.

I woke up and I wasn't quite sure what time it was but it was darker now. I was still wrapped up in my duvet but now I was aware of another presence. I turned slightly to my right. Bradley had tears in his eyes. As I watched, warily a tear fell down his cheek. He slowly reached out and gently stroked my jaw bone. I tensed as he did so. At any moment, he could hurt me again. I felt so... scared...

"I'm so sorry, baby... I didn't know what I was doing.. I'm... So... Sorry." He was sobbing and I couldn't believe my ears. Was sorry honestly good enough? But it shocked me. I had never seen Bradley cry and definitely never seen someone cry this hard. I stroked his wet cheek.

"It's okay. Please don't cry. I'm alright. It won't happen again, I'm sure." Bradley took both of my hands in his and held them gently.

"Never, I swear."

"Okay." We hugged for some time. He then wiped his eyes and looked at me, a smile starting to spread across his face.

"I got you a present to say how truly sorry I am."

"I know you're sorry, I don't need any gifts." He reached down the side of the bed and handed me a paper bag.

"Well, I wanted to spoil my beautiful baby girl. Open it." I smiled at him and sat up so I could open it. I tipped the bag up and in my lap, loads of make-up tipped out.

"Oh wow, Brad! You shouldn't have..." Bradley picked up a lipgloss and turned it so I could see the brand name.

"All genuine brands. I asked them to make sure you didn't get any cheap nasty shit. You deserve the best."

"YOU'RE the best." I hugged him gently. He hugged me back.

"Just don't get too doled up when you leave the house. I don't want anyone ogling you. You're mine." There was a slight emphasis on the last word but I ignored it as best as I could.

"Want to see what I look like all dressed up, just for you?" I asked him, stroking his jaw with my thumb. He smiled.

"Absolutely." I smiled too and gathered up all my make-up, taking it into the bathroom.

I arranged all the make-up onto an empty shelf next to the sink. True to his word, they were all big brand names. I noticed the lipsticks, nothing too 'doll-like', no reds. All of it was natural colours. Natural shades of eye shadow and six bottles of liquid concealer. Five tubs of natural coloured foundation. A whole selection of different brushes. The darkest shade of colour that there was, was the light pink lipstick, the exact shade as a lip colour would be for me. The lightest colour that there was, was the eyeshadow, a smoky grey. No bright and bold colours. No blues, blacks or whites. As I applied the concealer, wincing as I moved past my bruises, I realised why Bradley had given me these. After the foundation had been applied, it was glaringly obvious. The make-up I had was all natural shades. Natural shades... In case he beat the shit out of me again. So I could go out in public without ever causing suspicion about bruises. It was obvious now as I applied the pink lipstick. Because with all my new make-up on, I looked like I had never been hit. Like it had all just been a bad dream.

I showed Bradley and his eyes lit up and it made me sick but I put a fake smile on my face.

"Get your sexy ass to this bed." He murmured. I walked over to him where we made love. The whole time, I was trying my hardest not to cry. Anything to make him happy. Anything to stop the hits.

**************

I went to work the next day and the next without arousing suspicion. I partially wanted someone to stop me and ask but the bruises were yellow by Friday.

I got home from work that Friday and stopped because there were black bin bags in the hallway.

"Brad? I'm back! What's going on?" Bradley came downstairs with another black bin bag and flashed me a grin.

"Cleaning. I reckon it was time I helped you with cleaning out your room." I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Go take a look while I take these to the trash." I dashed up the stairs and burst into my room.

The curtains had been pulled back but Bradley had put the lights on to give extra light in the room. My closet doors were open, cabinets out of the bedside had been pulled out. I looked around.

Bradley had gone through everything I owned and had cut everything down to the bare minimum of items. All my clothes were in a pile on the floor. The pile was extremely small. I browsed through it all. Cardigans, sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, suit trousers, jeans, a few short-sleeved shirts. No skirts apart from knee-length pencil skirts and only two dresses that came up to my knees. Smart jackets, smart flat shoes and no high heels. One pair of trainers. All colourful and patterned bras had been chucked, leaving me with black, white and tan. Only proper panties of the same colour, no sexy underwear.

My make-up had been gone through as well. I used to have a make-up bag filled with make-up for going out. However this bag had been gone through and the left over contents had been spilt over the bedsheets. Only natural shades which meant I had maybe four items overall. A lipgloss, a chapstick, a brown shiny eyeshadow and a eyeshadow eye brush.

I felt exposed. Like I was naked in front of an audience. Vulnerable. What right did he have to go through my personal belongings? None. That was what.

"What do you think?" I turned around to see him leaning against my doorframe.

"Why did you do this?" I asked. I was shaking with anger, my fists clenched in my annoyance and yet I had to try hard to not be too angry or too upset because I didn't need more marks when my old ones were fading.

"Well I don't want my beautiful girlfriend being looked at by other guys when she goes to work."

"I don't dress up for work. The only times I ever dress up is when I go out with my friends!" Bradley took a step into the room. I had to fight to not take a step back.

"I wanted to talk to you about that... I don't think you should go out with them anymore." I stared at him, my mouth dropping open with my shock.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't think they're good for you. They all are just too... Weird for you. You deserve better." I shook my head. NOW I was drawing the line.

"This is getting ridiculous Bradley. You can't take control of my life. Why are you doing this?" His eyes flashed. I took a step back.

"Are you defying me, Ashley?" I swallowed down my nerves. I HAD to stand up for myself.

"Yes. I've had enough, Bradley. I'm done." Bradley walked up to me.

"I'LL tell you when you're done, you filthy slut." He grabbed me by both arms and threw me. I cried out as I fell, knocking into the bedside cabinet. I saw the lamp topple but it was so close to catching its balance when Bradley grabbed it. He smashed it over my head. The light became circular; my vision became tunnel-like and suddenly... Everything went black.