A Silhouette and Maybe More

Boundaries

Angela struck me as caring, based on the way she looked. I couldn't drag myself to look away from this picture, I kept looking at the way she hung her hands around his neck, the way he held her close and the way they both passionately looked into each other's eyes as if there was nothing that could drag them apart, but something did and it drastically turned Dan into a criminal.

What I found was enough for me to figure out who Angela was to Dan, and possibly earned myself an explanation from him. I cleared everything away putting objects back in the right place making sure that the room looked identical to the way it was when I first found it.

While Dan was still out getting food I began to read one of the books that he kindly laid out for me. From the first sentence I knew I was hooked, continuously turning the pages as I read through each chapter with such interest, imagining the appearance of each of the characters within my head losing myself to imagination and wonder. Dan and I must have similar interests in books.

After half an hour of endless reading Dan still hadn't returned, and my stomach was growling like a bear, desperate for a single bite out of a meal. Just as my thoughts started to think about food the front door swung open, the back of it hitting the wall and finally, closing with a mighty bang.

"AMELIA!" Dan boomed, his voice sounding hoarse. I quivered with fear wondering what I had done wrong in order for him to react so furiously. I didn't dare speak, I didn't dare move, I just stared at the door infront of me in full alert.

"AMELIA COME HERE RIGHT NOW!" He bellowed, I hesitantly obeyed, terrified out of my wits thinking over and over again about what I could've possibly of done to make him so furious. Limb by limb I made my appearance at the bottom of the staircase only to discover Dan's silhouette projected against the wall of the living room, waiting for me. My pulse throbbed within my neck and my heart trembled its way into my mouth, sweat leaking from my pores and my breath uncomfortably uneasy. I fear that this time, I won't be able to make things better for me or for Dan.

The door made an agonizing creaking sound as my weak arms forced it open, I swung my head round the door immediately locking eyes with Dan's. I swear that everytime he gets angry he grows a foot emphasising the diminutiveness of my height. Compared to my miniature figure, it looked like he could easily stand on me. I stood sheepishly by the door just incase that if anything got out of hand I would be able to make a swift escape.

"Close the door." His low and angry voice entered my ears sending chills up my spine, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. Yet again I obeyed his orders not wanting to make things worse. His bloodshot eyes glared at me through his furrowed eyebrows while he breathed in and out, attempting to keep his emotions under control, and to be honest I didn't know why he tried, he'd lose his temper no matter how the conversation ended.

"Do you think I wouldn't notice?"

I blankly stared at him completely unaware of the subject of the conversation. I rubbed my palms together getting rid of the sweat that had built up, saying nothing. I genuinely had no idea what he was talking about.

"Answer me!" he shouted kicking the table over in the process creating an awful clatter of noise. My shoulders raised along with my arms as my reflexes kicked in.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" I squealed, my voice abnormally high. My breath hitched mid-sentence, was it enough to convince him even though I was telling him the truth? He took a couple of steps closer, threatening to attack if he didn't get the answer he was looking for.

"Please..." I begged, my voice softer and quieter than the last time I spoke. I was now huddled into the corner of the room having nothing but myself to act as a shield. I wish I could just close my eyes and it would all be over. I was so convinced that Dan had somehow saw a little decency in himself and that he had changed, but obviously not. Not only had I failed Dan, I had failed myself, I promised myself that I would help him, to see a better way of dealing with stressful situations, but to witness him lose temper like this made me see that I was just wasting my time.

"I had the police on my tail the whole way home, and I certainly wasn't speeding!" he screamed, his face going through the same process step by step whenever his anger lost control. I did nothing but cowardly stand in the corner while he would continue to tower over me, intimidating me to a level at which I just wanted to run away.

"I didn't do anything..." I muttered with my child-like voice. Our two contrasting personalities clashed as he continued to protest.

"Is that so?" He mimicked pouting his bottom lip jokingly while I did it subconsciously, on the verge of tears. Now he was just being rude. Why couldn't he just get through that thick skull of his that I was on his side? I was having a major emotional breakdown. Inside me was a soup of emotions being blended together to create the ultimate malfunction; fear, agitation, frustration and most importantly disappointment.

"Why don't you believe me? I'm trying to help you!" I barked back fighting the fear that stopped me from defending myself, I can't let him take advantage of me. Although I was aware that he had tried to kill me in the past due to the fact that he lost his temper with me, I was sure he wouldn't push the boundaries again...or would he?