The Broken Tale

Lights On

Song: Leave the lights on by Meiko

Recovery was a hard fought battle for Layla. The doctor told her that she had four broken ribs, a broken arm and leg, caused a few very small cracks in her skull, the kicks to her head that damaged muscles in her right eye, the tears of blows to her stomach had hurt her colon and liver. It took her weeks before she could swallow the smallest bit of food. Walking or even sitting up felt like a distant dream sometimes. Brian and Talya spent day and night by her side, rarely ever going home for less than two hours for a shower or a change of clothes. Alexander, Raina and Noah visited often as well but Leah was away to visit her parents across the country so they hadn't told her anything. Layla was blessed to not hear or see anything at all from Ali all the time she was in the hospital. She slowly began to feel like herself again, surrounded by her friends, the hospital felt like a safe haven, where she knew she was okay, safe. Layla sometimes wished that she has gotten more injuries so she could stay in the hospital longer, stay away from Ali and abuse for longer.
"Come on, Laili, just a little more." The nurse urged.
Layla tightened her grip on the metal walkers around her. Never in her life had she thought it would take that much effort and strength to just take one step.
"Goddamit!" Layla groaned at the pain in her chest.
She forced her foot to move, she was able to slightly lift her hands above the walkers and managed to cross the entire distance before the nurses grabbed her.
"I just can't do it anymore." Layla gasped as they set her down on the bed.
"It's okay, you did so good for today." The nurse reassured.
"Good?" Layla snapped, "It's been two months now and this is still all I can do."
The nurse patted her shoulder, "You went through a lot, it'll take some time for your body to recover."
"But you're way too much of a stubborn idiot to see that." Talya's high pitched voice beamed.
She burst into the room, tossing her expensive, brown leather jacket on the bed. Alexander and Brian slowly followed her inside, they were too caught up in a conversation with each other to notice anything around them.
"You're looking so much better!" Talya exclaimed, giving her a big hug.
"Wish I felt the same."
Talya rolled her eyes, "Be a little positive, moron."
The nurses had left to give them all some privacy, shutting the door behind them.
"How are you?" Brian asked as he sat next to her.
Layla shrugged, "Not bad."
"Can you walk?" Alexander asked from his corner.
"Yeah but it hurts like hell."
Brian bit his lip. The three of them exchanged a worried look, Layla knew there was something else going through their heads.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Layla asked anxiously.
They all stayed silent for a moment, none were brave enough to make the first move.
"Layla, where do you think you can stay if you get discharged?" Alexander spoke up.
Layla's eyes widened in fear, "D-discharged?"
"Layla, the doctors say you can go home, you're fully healed and there's no reason for you to stay here anymore." Brian explained.
Layla's eyes filled with horrified tears, the episodes of abuse flashed before her eyes, she had to go back, she had to go back to him.
"Listen, Laili, maybe you can stay with us until Ali asks you to come home?" Talya suggested, rubbing her knees comfortingly.
She had to go back to him!
"Yeah, we're staying here for a few more months." Alexander added.
Brian's phone rang in the midst of the conversation. Layla saw his face turn pale as he looked at the screen. He looked up at her, he didn't have to say anything, she already knew who it was from the fear in his eyes.
"It's him, isn't it?" She asked hopelessly.
He nodded.
"Well pick it up." Layla urged, "You ending up shot is the last thing I need right now."
Brian shook his head.
"Yes?"
Everyone sat silently, observing Brian's facial features to have some sort of idea about what Ali was saying.
Brian finally sighed, "Alright, okay. I got it."
He hung up and dropped the phone back in his pocket.
"Well?" Layla asked impatiently.
Her hands were cold in anxiety, her lungs were tightening in her chest.
"He says he wants you home." Brian replied sadly.
"What? How did he know she was getting discharged?" Talya bellowed.
"He tracked Layla's phone here and called the hospital."
Layla buried her face in her palms, her skin soaked up the tears rolling onto her hands.
Talya rubbed her back, "It'll be okay."
"Oh, no, like hell it won't!" Layla snapped, "I-I can't do this...I can't get hit again, I can't have him inside me ever again, please no!"
"Layla, you have to be strong." Brian started.
"Strong?" Layla shouted, looking up at him with an animalistic glare, "I've been 'strong' for three years, you bastard!"
"There's no escaping this, Layla, and we all know it." Alexander cut in calmly, "The one way out is to be patient and stand your ground until the right time."
"When is the right time again?" Layla growled.
"We don't know yet." Talya replied, "But we have hope. Isn't that enough?"
Layla shook her head, "You don't get it. There is no hope."
"Says who?" Brian asked.
"Says me! Says life! Says logics!"
"Layla, Layla, look at me." Brian demanded, he got on his knees Infront of her and held her face with both hands, "Do you think this is a locked door?"
"A what?" Layla asked in confusion.
Brian sighed and forced a smile, "Once upon a time, there was a man-"
"I don't need a fairytale, Brian." Layla interrupted.
But it didn't dim the determination in his eyes or his smile.
"Just listen." Alexander encouraged knowingly.
"That man was the best jail breaker anyone ever knew." Brian continued, "He could break any locks and unlock any door in a matter of minutes. He had never failed in unlocking anything. One day, a famous prison challenged him to break out of one of their most secured prison cells."
Layla forced herself to listen, at least for the sake of distracting himself away from her fear.
"The whole country watched as he went inside, claiming that he'd be out in less than an hour. As the doors locked in on him, he took out his tools and began working. Thirty minutes later, the door was still locked and he was drenched in anxious sweat."
Alexander sat next to Layla on the bed, "An hour later, he collapsed and gave up. As he fell to the floor in exhaustion, the door unlocked."
Talya raised an eyebrow, her confusion matched Layla's.
"You see, Layla." Brian resumed, "When he began working on the lock, he thought it was made by the most skilled locksmith in the world, that it was a million times more complicated than anything he had ever seen. But in reality, it was just an ordinary lock."
"But in his overestimation, he over complicated his own work." Alexander explained, "If he had only been more logical and patient instead of acting on what he expected, he would've seen the truth."
"Your life is just like this door, Layla, and you're the one trying to unlock it." Brian said, "Don't make the same mistake as the man, Laili.
"Calm yourself down and look at it logically, stress and fear always alter your vision of reality. Never form a view or make a decision when you're stressed." Alexander added.
"Now tell me, Layla. Is your door really forever locked? Is there no way to unlock it? To get out?"
Layla stared at him through her tears. Could he be right? Was her door forever locked?
"Wh-when will I be discharged?" Layla finally asked.
Brian grinned, knowing his story had worked at least to some extent.
"Today."
"Today?" Talya snapped in surprise.
"Yes, the sooner, the better." Brian explained, "Now let's get your things packed up while I pay the hospital bills."
"I can pay them." Alexander offered.
"No, Alex, it's fine." Layla protested, "If Brian pays them, Ali will pay him back."
"I'll pack up your things." Talya said.
Layla sat quietly at the foot of the bed, fidgeting with her ice cold hands while Talya packed up the clothes she and Brian has bought into a backpack. Alexander was taking a business call outside while Brian went to pay the bills. It felt like the floor was gone beneath her feet, she couldn't breathe, fear was slowly enveloping everything around her.
"I'm scared." She murmered.
Talya sighed, setting the backpack by their feet, she sat next to her.
"I know you are." Talya started, "But tell me, Laili, if bit like this then what other way out is there?"
.....
Layla bit her lip and shook her head, "this is all we can do, isn't it?"
Talya patted her back comfortingly, "For now, yes. But I promise it'll get better."
Alexander and Brian quietly returned.
"Talya, I think it's time we leave." Alexander suggested.
"You two are leaving?" Brian asked.
Talya handed him the backpack, "I don't think it's a good idea for us and Ali to come face to face."
"Yeah, I guess." Brian agreed, throwing the backpack over his shoulder.
Talya turned to Layla. She was so shocked to see how much Layla had changed in just a few minutes, she had transformed into a sad, trembling, horrified middle aged woman instead of a vibrant girl of twenty-one.
"It'll be okay." Talya reassured, hugging her tightly, "I'm always one phone call away."
Layla buried her face in Talya's shoulder, "I'm scared."
"It's okay, it's okay."
Layla sat quietly in the passenger's seat. Brian drove as slow as possible, it was clear that he too was trying to put the time he would have to watch her wonder off right into Ali's abusive arms aside.
"Monica." Brian said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"You remind me of my older sister." He answered.
Layla brushed a lock of her brown hair behind her ears, "Is that a good thing?"
Brian sighed, "No, no, it's not."
Layla was confused, "why?"
"Monica was five years older than me. She was really pretty, witty, kind, guys were always swarming around her." Brian recounted, surrow and grief choking his voice, "She got into a relationship with a bastard called Mike six years ago. He was abusive right from the start, she always had bruises and black eyes but always said they were from falling down or bumps but we knew that wasn't true. He cut her off from all her friends and soon from us too."
"Well haven't I seen that before." Layla added sadly.
"She endured it for three years. I never knew why, Stockholm syndrome, fear or maybe she even loved him. But one thing's for sure is that she never left." He continued, "But finally he broke her. We wanted to go see her and...when we went in the house, we just saw her hanging like a limp rag doll. Later, police found out that Mike had shot her in the head and pushed her down the stairs in the midst of a screaming match, the hanging suicide shit was only a scheme."
Layla was speechless.
"Wow. I'm so...I'm so sorry." She croaked.
Brian shrugged with unshed tears in his eyes, "You won't be like Monica though. Monica's situation didn't allow her to have anyone there for her but you have us here. You'll be okay, I've learned from my mistakes from last time."
"Brian, I'm really not so sure." She replied, "Divorce really isn't a option, man, Muslim, middle eastern families don't just watch their daughters divorce and walk off into the sunset, if I divorce today, they'll shoot me and hide my body in a suitcase the next."
"Talya already explained that to me."
"Then what can I do? Kill him and waltz off into prison?" She asked intolerably.
"No." He replied calmly, "I'm not so sure yet, Laili, maybe run off into another country and change your name?"
Layla laughed, "Haven't I ever tried that one before?"
"Give us some time to figure this out, Layla, how about it?" He suggested as they drove into the mansion's grounds.
Layla's heart dropped to her stomach at the familiar surroundings. She was back again! Brian slowly pulled over, his hands lingered on the steering wheel while his eyes searched hers, both were ravaged with fear. Layla felt like her body was frozen, she couldn't move. It was Brian who got out of the car first, Layla sighed and gathered all her courage to follow him.
"I feel like he's looking at us somewhere." Layla confessed.
Brian sighed with his hands on his hips, "He trusts me, you'll be fine as long as it's me you're around."
Layla shook her head, "I don't want to do this."
Brian shrugged and leaned against the bumper of his car, "We can wait. Tell me a little about yourself."
Layla sighed, "Well, Talya and I ran-"
"I don't mean your story with Ali, babe, I mean a little about you." He interrupted, "Your likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams."
Layla laughed, "Dreams aren't a thing when you're stuck with Ali Elmar."
"You know, Laili, if you keep up this attitude, you'll make every single plan harder for us all. Now tell me, what are your dreams and goals?"
Layla leaned against the car, that had been something she hadn't thought about in a while.
"I wanted to become an architect, I've always loved designing, you know." She started, "I wanted to have a stable job, find love and have a little, normal family of my own."
Brian smiled, "That's so amazing....and totally possible."
"I doubt it."
"No, Laili, it's more than possible."
Layla shook her head, "I hope so."
"Do you have any hobbies?" Brian asked on.
"I like to draw sometimes." Layla admitted, "I draw when I'm really hurt or stressed."
"That's really cool, maybe you can show me sometime."
Layla nodded, "that'd be great, I'll try to find some of them for the next time we meet."
Layla sighed and her smile faded. There was little more Brian could say to keep the conversation going. They both just stared up at the blue sky, the birds flew through the clouds, Layla despised those birds for being so free, for being able to fly wherever they wanted.
"It's getting late, I think I should go." Layla finally said, "He's waiting for me."
Brian stayed silent for a moment.
"Layla?"
"Yeah?"
Brian turned his gaze on her with a sigh, "Look, things are different now, alright? We both know what's beneath the perfect marriage sheets, we both know it's not what it seems. So no keeping secrets from me or your friends, alright? Whatever happens in that house, you'll tell us, you never know how the smallest bit of information will help us, okay?"
Layla fought back her tears and nodded. Layla finally mustered up enough strength to force her body to look away and go inside, the faster she went in, the quicker it would be over. As she started for the house, Brian grabbed her wrist and stopped her. She looked up at him in desperate confusion.
"Layla." He muttered nervously, "Look, I-I'll be watching out here for tonight...if he-he does anything to you, call me, alright? If you're safe, I want you to keep the lights on in your bedroom, just to let me know, okay? I don't think it's safe for me to text or call you so this is the next best thing."
Layla nodded slowly, tears choking her throat. She had never been so scared of anyone or anything in her life, she desperately wanted to disappear, she wished Ali had killed her. She threw herself into Brian's arms as her walls began crumbling down around her, he held her while she sobbed into his soft blue cotton shirt.
"I don't want to do this anymore." She wept.
"Stay strong, Layla." He soothed, stroking her hair, "You can do it, Laili, you just need to fight."
"I'm scared."
"Shhh, every night has a morning, Layla, this will end the same way it started, you just wait."
Layla looked back at Brian with tearful, horrified eyes with her hand on the door, as if she was desperately wanting him to just run to her and take her away, that she didn't have to go back inside. But his own sorrowed smile of encouragement told her that it wasn't possible, she had to go back inside and his blue eyes told her so. He gesutred for her to take a deepbreath and gather her strength, she wiped away her tears and inhaled deeply, she shut her eyes for a moment and forced herself to step inside. After giving Brian one last glance to soothe her aching heart, she shut the glass, front door behind her, blocking the sunlight and her safe haven from her. The mansion, still beautiful despite the blood it was painted in, was quiet, and still. Layla stopped in the entrance to the living room, using the golden vanity table to steady herself, the memories of that night flooded back to her, her screams and desperate pleads echoed through her head, the spotless floor tiles were still smeared with her own blood in Layla's eyes, that night flashed before her eyes like a film being rewind. As Layla was trying to breathe despite the trauma flooding back to her, she heard footsteps walk down the marble stairs.
Tip, tap, tip, tap.
The footsteps stopped behind her, knocking out all air from her lungs and freezing over every ounce of blood in her veins. It was him. She could feel his tenacious presence, see his figure block out light from behind her. She didn't dare to turn around at first, every fiber in her body was frozen and her heart was thumping against her chest, pumping adrenaline to every inch of her body. But she had to stay on his good side, he showed that he would never hesitate to kill her right there and then if the smallest things displeased him. For her own sake, for the sake of a possibility of escape or even survival, she had to be good. She very slowly forced herself to turn around, but nothing could make her look up into his eyes so she kept her eyes on the floor, fidgeting with his cold hands.
"Hi." She murmered in a shaky voice.
Pause.
"Hey." He finally replied, "You're looking better."
Layla swallowed, "Y-yeah, the hospital w-was really good."
"Brian paid?"
Layla nodded her head.
"How much?"
"He didn't tell me."
He stayed quiet for a few moments. There wasn't a breath of sound except Layla's thumping heart beat which was so loud that she knew Ali could hear it too, he knew she was afraid of him, and she knew it fueled his ever growing ego, satisfying his burning desire.
"Look at me." He demanded calmly.
Layla didn't think, she knew if she did, she wouldn't be able to obey him. She looked up into his indifferent, calm brown eyes that pierced right through her the second she looked at him. He slowly walked over to her, every step was like
"You're trembling." He said, holding her face.
She fought back her tears, fought back the urge to scream and run.
"Your eyes," he murmered, "the...the light, Laili, those stars that you were named after are gone. That defiance, Layla, that defiance is gone, your eyes are empty."
"Isn't that how you want me to be?"
He smirked, "Yes. You look beautiful like this, Layla, you're what I've always wanted in a wife now, beautiful, witty, feminine, obedient. You're just perfect now."
Layla forced herself to keep eye contact with him, forced herself to not break. Ali took her hand in his and lead her to the living room. He sat down on the sofa and slowly pulled her until she was sitting in his lap. She kept as still as a statue, he was in a good mood and that was how she wanted to keep him. His hand slowly crept up from her waist to her breasts, his lips brushed against her neck. His warm breath tickled her, his kisses hurt and his touch burned her skin.
"Do you want me to stop?" He asked.
He had never asked her nor really cared whether she wanted or not.
"You can do whatever you want." She answered robotically.
She felt him smirk against her neck, "You can be honest with me, you don't have to be afraid. Now you can leave, I can tell that you're tired."
"Are you sure?" She asked, "I'm fine, we can do whatever you want."
"No, you can go."
Layla hesitated, what if this was one of his tricks? But if she didn't leave, would he get mad for disobeying her? Finally, she sighed and got to her feet, she felt his eyes grazing her body as she slowly went up the stairs.
The mansion was spotlessly clean, Layla stumbled to her room, shutting the door behind her. It had been three months, Layla wondered who Ali must have spent all this time with. Everything was in immaculate order, not a speck of dust could be found anywhere, Layla set the backpack down and pulled out a long blue dress with spaghetti sleeves from inside their closet, setting it down on the bed. She tossed her clothes into the laundry basket in the bathroom and stepped into the shower. It was the first time for her to shower by herself in the past three months, she felt like her mind had forgotten many of the basic necessities in life. The hot water dripped down on her shoulders and back, she almost jumped at first touch of the scolding hot water, a sensation that was so common in her life before but was now an alienated feeling. She exhaled as the hot water soothed down her thumping heart. The splashing of water as it hit the floor drowned out all other sounds around her. She heard the bathroom door shut behind her, fear took seconds to overtake her entire body. She couldn't believe that she was shaking in scolding, hot water. She knew very well who it was, her hand froze on the faucet, what could she do? Run? No, she had to be brave and stand her ground.
"Can I join?" Ali asked, opening the curtains.
Layla didn't dare look back at him, "if you want so."
"It's fine if you don't want me to."
Layla shook her head, "No, it's okay."
She heard a rambling of undoing his belt and tossing his clothes in the laundry basket. He joined her in the shower, Layla tried to calm herself, to force her body to stop trembling but she couldn't. Just his presence was enough to scare her to death now. He tangled his hands in her soapy hair, generally massaging her head as he washed her hair wordlessly. As the water washed down on both of them, he slowly swung her around to face him, lifting her head to stare back into his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"For what?"
"You lost our baby." He answered, "Brian told me."
Layla sighed and broke from his eyes, he did sound genuinely sorry but that could just be one of the many things he fakes all too easily, she knew better than to trust him.
"What's done is done." She coaxed, "I don't blame you, you lost your son and you were in a really dark place."
She hated herself for those words, but it was what she had to do. She hated her situation, she hated herself and life for being so cruel to her. What had she done to deserve this? Why couldn't she just be a normal person for one day? Why couldn't this just end already?
"No, Layla, you didn't deserve this." He persisted, "If I could take it all back, I would."
Layla swallowed and braced herself. She slowly lifted her hand to his chest, forcing herself to look up at him.
"I forgive you." She lied, "I'm yours, you can do what you want with me."
He smirked in satisfaction, "That's a good girl."
He pecked her cheek.
"Now get ready." He continued, "I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?"
He shut off the water, taking her hand in his, he lead her out of the shower and handed her a towel. She wrapped it around her wet body, she crossed her arms over her chest to allow herself at least a little modesty while he wrapped the white robe around himself. He smiled at her, he placed his hand on her back lead her out of the bathroom to their bedroom.
"Will this dress work?" She asked, picking up the white dress she had laid out.
"No, I got you something else." He replied.
Layla sat quietly on the bed with her hands tangled in each other on her lap. Ali slid open their closet door and fished out a gorgeous and expensive looking red dress. It looked tight, a mermaid styled dress that brushed against the floor. He laid it down on the bed.
"What do you think?" He asked, "I think it'd really suit you."
Layla smiled, running her hand over the soft fabric, "I love it, it looks amazing."
"I'm glad you like it. Now get ready, we're gonna be late."
"Where are we going?"
Ali laughed as if she was asking about the obvious.
He say next to her, "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now, would it?"
He kissed her forehead and got to his feet, fetching a sky blue denim jacket, a black tank top and a pair of black ripped jeans. He starting to get dressed silently, completely ignoring Layla and not looking at her at all. She was a little confused, every time she had tried to change her clothes in the past, he had always insisted that she must do it Infront of him, his sudden change of behavior was confusing her, what did he want? Why was he being nice to her? But she decided to just go with it instead of agitating a volcano. She got dressed silently, zipping up the dress and turning to look for the hair dryer.
"You look amazing." He commented.
Layla gave a subtle smile, not turning to him and continuing to look for her hairdryer, "Thank you."
"You don't need to cry your hair by the way." He added, reaching for a bottle of perfume on the dressing table, "Unless you want to."
"I'll just blow dry it real quick." She replied, pulling the hairdryer out of the drawer.
He took it from her and plugged it in, "I'll do it for you."
He swung her around so she was facing away from him. He quietly starting to blow dry her hair, brushing it with his other hand.
"I love you." He whispered.
His voice was almost completely drowned out by the swooshing of the hairdryer but she could make out what he said.
"I...I love you t-too." She muttered back.
On the way, Layla didn't say a word unless she was spoken to. Ali drove in almost complete silence as well but he did make a comment or two about how beautiful the night was every now and then but nothing else. He finally pulled over and where they were left Layla more confused than she already was. He got out of the car with her following him. Even at night, the beach was still beautiful, still one of her favorite places to be. Both of them took off their shoes, leaving them by the car. It was quiet, Ali held her hand and walked her down by the shore, the sea was quiet and calm, flowing slowly by their feet.
"Are you cold?" He asked.
"No, I'm fine."
He sighed and stopped in his tracks. He dropped down in the sand. Layla hesitated but sat down next to him.
"When I was little," he started, "I loved the beach so much. Every time my family traveled, I'd spend day and night at the beach, dreaming and thinking while the ocean roared around me. My parents would have to drag me home."
Layla smiled, "I love the water, it's just...so relaxing."
Stay on his good side, Layla. Give him what he wants, be nice, you don't want to raise suspicion on you.
She sighed and forced herself to lean her head on his chest.
"All the time you were gone, I reliezed how important you are to me." He kissed her hand, "I love you, Layla, I just...lose control sometimes and I come to regret it."
"Marriage can be rough sometimes." She replied with a shrug.
"You're probably wondering why I wanted you to dress up if we were just gonna be alone, huh?"
"No, not really."
"Well then." He snorted, "Look, I've been wondering something."
Layla looked at him, rather intrigued, "yeah?"
"I lost my son and you lost our baby." He started, "Maybe another baby will do us all good?"
Layla sighed, she saw that question coming. She couldn't believe the audacity he had. How could any man ask a woman for another baby when he killed their last? But thankfully, she had already thought of an excuse.
"You have no idea how much I'd like that but we can't." She lied, "The doctors say that my uterus is too damaged to gave another child for at least another year."
He was quiet. Obviously disappointed and probably even mad but he didn't say or do anything. He just stared at the sea reflecting the moonlight's glimmers. Layla remembered the thought she had three years ago, could he ever change? She sighed, now she knew the answer but she learned the hard way. She only prayed that she and everyone else would make it out of this nightmare alive but with each passing second, it sounded more impossible.