The River Speaks

Chapter Seven: Woods

Chapter Seven: Woods

Elliot's BMW speeds down the highway as we get closer and closer to Framingham. He's not really talking to me and there isn't much for me to say to him.

I'm just happy to be out of the house. The road is pretty boring right now because it's a two lane road, no passing lanes, and all that's around us are trees.

It reminds me of home only the closest thing we have to a highway cutting through our little town are the railroad tracks.

I study the woods, hoping to see a deer or something, but all of the cars are too loud. It scares them off because the tree line is too close to the road.

"Why are you so quiet?" Elliot asks, putting his hand on my thigh. I resist the urge to push him off.

"I'm just thinking about deer."

"Deer?" He asks.

"Yeah. I kinda miss them, you know?"

"No, I don't. I don't like animals."

What kind of person doesn't like animals?

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, looking at my purse.

"Well back home-"

"Home is with me now,Lilliana. Stop referring to that country bumpkin town as home."

"Sorry." I mutter when I feel his hand tighten on my thigh, strong enough to leave bruises. I don't say anything about it hurting me even though he's squeezing my so hard I want to cut his hand off and slap him with it.

His phone vibrates in the cup holder and my eyes move down to the screen instinctively.

Amber: hey baby are you coming over tonight? I got these new ribbed condoms and I really wanna try them ;)

After a moment, the light on his screen times out, and I look back at the window.

I got these new ribbed condoms and I really wanna try them

He's cheating on me.

And just like that, a fire is blazing inside of me.

I think there always was a fire inside of me. I think there's a fire inside of everyone. Sometimes though, we go through things that put it out.

But he just threw a match on my embers.

Who the fuck does he think he is? Locking me up every day, not letting me talk to my family, hitting me? Doing whatever the hell he wants whenever the hell he wants?

This fucker. I grew up in the goddamn forest.

I look out at the trees and my heart starts pounding so loudly I can feel the blood rushing to my ears.

"Elliot, pull over. I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Hold it in."

"I can't, I'm going to throw up!"

He lets out a swear and yanks the wheel to the right, pulling us off the road so we're so close to the trees that when I throw the door open, I ding it.

Instead of throwing up, I unbuckle my seatbelt and grab my purse.

He keeps the keys to my truck in the glove box, so I open the glove box and snatch them out.

"What are you fucking doing?" He asks lowly, getting out of the car.

"Getting as far away from your crazy ass as possible!" I hiss. "You're abusive. You're controlling."