Seeking Love *completed*

Eye of the Storm

Even though I took sleeping pills, I felt as if I never went to sleep. I rolled over to my side to watch the sun rise outside my window. As soon as I did, I winced in pain. I had forgotten about the bruise that had formed on my side. I laid on my back starring at the ceiling listening to the noises outside my door.

I could here someone moving around then heard a door shut. I could hear footsteps heading my way. My heart slammed against my chest at the thought of it being Larc. What if he was coming back to finish what he started? How much of last night did he remember? Was he still drunk or sobered up? So many questions whirled in my head that it made me dizzy. I quickly squeezed my eyes shut when I heard the door knob jiggle. I had locked it before going to bed so I thought he was going to turn away. Instead I heard a key turning and the door creaked open. The footsteps were softer now and we're heading to the closet. I peeked one eye open to see Larc standing in the closet doorway changing his clothes. I shut my eyes again and tried to seem like a was asleep. After he was done he walked over to the bed, he leaned down and softly planted a kiss on my forehead before leaving. I listened to the sound of his footsteps going down the stairs and out the door.

Relief washed over me as the front closed. I wouldn't have to see him for the rest of the day now. Even though he left the house, I couldn't bring myself to leave the bedroom. I hadn't even left the bed yet. The soreness in my side made last night's event fresh on my memory. I laid there drowning in my self pity when I heard a soft knock on the door.

I held my breath to be a quiet as I could. I didn't want to be bothered, but I knew he wouldn't give up that easily. I heard another knock then shortly after the door came open.

"You know if you're just going to let yourself in then way bother knocking?" I pulled myself to a sitting position to see Zander standing there.

"Because it's polite." He smiled his goofy grin and made his way to the bed. "Want anything to eat?"

"I don't really feel like eating or having company right now."

His grin grew wider. "Well good thing no one's here to see you."

I couldn't help but to laugh at him. No matter how sad or hopeless I feel, Zander knows exactly what to do to make me feel better. Still smiling I leaned into him. He wrapped me in a hug as I fell apart and began to cry.

"Why is he doing this?" I cried

"I don't know."

"Doesn't he love me still? I never knew he had this problem or that he could be so violent. I want the old Larc back."

"I know. I haven't either, well I mean I have seen him violent while drunk. But it's never been more than just trying to start a fight with a guy at the bar though. I would've never have thought he'd be the one to hit his wife." He tightened his hug around me. "I wish I could make it better. I hate seeing him do this to you."

I pulled away to scan his face. His eyes were clouded with remorse and pain. Concern was creased across his forehead. My eyes stopped on his soft full lips. In that moment I wanted nothing more than to taste them.

What am I thinking. I'm married.

*******
Three months later

The warm and kind man that I fell in love with was soon replaced with an unfamilar monster. As the months treaded on, his weekend habits of drinking trickled into the week. I was sporting a knew bruise several times a week. The gifts still came the morning after like it erased what he did. Everytime he came home late or went straight for his office I wanted to run and hide. I knew it would be a matter of time before he'd find some reason to take his anger out on me after the drinking started.