Stay the Night

Chapter 57

June 26th, 2004

Mariah carefully washed her face, frowning at her reflection in the mirror. She gingerly reached for her eye, noting the dark, purple color of the skin. She glanced down at her arms, fresher red bruises from being grabbed littered her body. 

She covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing. How did I let this shit happen to me again?

She forced herself to look at the mirror. Come on, Mariah. Look at yourself! You're letting this man take over your life. He has no right to be doing the shit he's doing. You're going to break this shit off--

Ding!

She flinched at the sound, knowing it was Mark. She hesitated, afraid of what the message could be. Mark seemed to have two personalities, a gentle one and then the violent drunk she'd been getting lately. 

She picked up her phone with shakey hands. 

Good morning beautiful.

Mariah let out a sigh and set her phone back down on the sink. I can't do this shit anymore.

She walked into the bedroom and grabbed a long sleeve shirt, despite it being nearly July in California. She couldn't stand to look at her body.

Ring.

Ring.

She hurried into the bathroom to see who could "possibly be calling her. She picked up her phone, looking at the caller ID- Jackson, Jermaine.

She smirked and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mariah. What you up to?" came the friendly voice of her brother-in-law.

"Nothing," She shrugged. "I just got up. You?"

"Ah, nothing right now, but I was going to be out your way later on. Is it cool if I drop by?"

She glanced at the mirror before shaking her head. "N-No, no, not today."

"Oh, so you get a man, and we can't hang out? I see you, Mariah," He joked.

Mariah nervously pushed her hair behind her ears. "No, it's not that. The house isn't clean, and I look a mess--"

"I mean, that doesn't really matter to me, but I can just swing by next week if that's cool." He conceded.

Mariah chewed the inside of her cheek. "Sure, sounds good. I'll call you later, and we can set it up."

"Sounds good,"

Click.

June 26th, 2004

Jermaine glanced over at Michael.

Michael shook his head. "Yeah, he beat her ass. I can tell,"

Jermaine noticed his brother clenching his fists. "How can you tell?"

"The way she answered the phone, her voice was shaking and then when she started stuttering when you said you were coming over. He hurt her," Michael concluded quietly. 

Jermaine was quiet for a moment, mulling over his brother's analysis. He didn't catch any of what Michael did, but he figured his brother just knew his wife.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Jermaine asked. 

Michael stood up from the chair he was sitting in. "I am about to go get my woman. Come on,"

Jermaine followed Michael into the foyer. 

"Kay!" Michael shouted up the stairs.

"Yeah?" The woman shouted back.