Stop || A Domestic Violence Story

Chapter One: Regrets Shape The Future

One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States.

(The woman in media is Jasmine Perez)
~

April 17th felt like any other day; warm, with a few waves of wind, but it was more quiet than usual. The homeless wasn't arguing with each other over which box is his, the usual kids that hung around at the corner (verbally harassing passerby's) wasn't there, and the air felt stale as if everything had died. I didn't think much on these unusual happenings, but later I realized the universe was trying to tell me something along the lines of, "This is your only chance to leave with no trace!" It suggested, "Nobody is here to notice you. Hop on the empty bus and leave once and for all!". I regret not noticing the signs. . .

I'll regret it until the day I die.

I was rushing back home from the store, trying to get home early enough to hide this pregnancy test.

My name is Jasmine Perez.

My mind was going a million miles per hour, making a huge headache. All I could think about was this pregnancy test rustling in my purse. I couldn't help but talk aloud to myself , hoping it will relax me, "What if it falls out while your talking to him? Or he decides to go through your purse as you're putting the groceries away? How would you explain this to him? You know he'll overreact and think your cheating on him!" My headache became worse.

As I crossed the street I didn't notice the car coming down the road until it stopped suddenly, as the driver gave a long honk, "Look both ways you stupid bitch!" Yelled the driver. I was at a lost of words. I nearly became roadkill, yet I had no reaction to it. I just kept walking at the same pace.

I forced myself to calm down as I was approaching our house. This house is the one thing I cherish most in life. It was mine. Not Jacob's, or my Mrs. Chanel's, completely mine. I convinced Jacob to let me buy it before we married,as a gift to him, when in reality I wrote my name down instead of his.

I stood in front of our door, stiff legged, wondering should I walk in or not. But before I could even open the door, Jacob swung it open, making me jump back. "Welcome home beautiful." He pecked my cheek before he went back inside, leaving the door open for me to close.

I checked the clock on the wall, "You're up earlier than usual." I took my shoes off at the door, because my dearly beloved husband hates a dirty floor (Yet he walks around with muddy shoes all day). Jacob sleeps throughout the day and goes to work at night. He usual wakes up at 6:00 PM on the dot, but it's 4:30 now. He responded monotoned, "I couldn't sleep, but that's not a problem is it?". I reassured him, "Not at all.", then placed my purse on the counter and started putting the groceries away.

As I was finishing up, Jacob was staring me down the entire time, studying my every motion, like a lion hunting it's prey. He was waiting for the slightest slip up just so he could come in for the kill. His staring made me even more nervous. It felt as if I was walking on ice.

Jacob gave up staring at me, but instead got an apple from the fridge, rinsed it off and dried it on my shirt. As he was drying the apple I noticed the pregnancy test had partially poked out of my purse just enough to notice it. Jacob stood right in front of it, if he turned around he'd notice it immediately.