He Gives Me Bruises.

Chapter Fourteen👁

Randomly dedicated to floresmaaez

Jeremy's P.O.V
(Phone conversation with Jay)

Jeremy: I didn't hit her, I swear. She was begging for it though. I've never heard her with so much attitude before.
Jay: Please Jeremy. We've talked about this. You can't just hit her cause you feel like she deserves it. You shouldn't hit her period.
Jeremy: Listen Jay, I'll run my marriage my way. This is what works for me.
Jay: Did it work for your father? Didn't your mother leave him?
Jeremy: What are you saying Jay?
Jay: I think you know what I'm getting at. Perhaps she has had enough-
Jeremy: Don't be stupid Jay. Grace has nothing without me. She wouldn't leave.
Jay: Has she mentioned it in anyway?
Jeremy: She talked about wanting a break, but I convinced her otherwise.
Jay: You sure about that? Maybe you guys do need a break. Let her have some time to herself. I can't imagine what she's been going through-
Jeremy interrupted: Whose side are you on Jay? Why are you always sympathizing with my wife?
Jay: I don't know Jeremy. Maybe it's because her husband - my best friend- beats her, cheats on her, and still thinks that she shouldn't leave him. How selfish.
Jeremy: I didn't call for your criticism Jay. I called for your advice.
Jay: I've been trying to advise you. Perhaps it's too late for my insight. Grace has possibly made her mind up by now.
Jeremy: Whatever. She ain't going anywhere.
Jay: Take the break Jeremy. Maybe get some counseling, some anger management classes. You've been through abuse as well. Get some help. Make some effort to save your relationship with Grace and others.
Jeremy: I'll think about it Jay. Look I've got some files to look at. Talk to you later.
Jay: Yeah, okay man.
Jeremy hangs up the phone.

As much as I tried, I couldn't fully focus on what I was doing.
I haven't been fair to my wife. I haven't even been faithful. I started slipping up even before our marriage and never bothered to make a change. Empty words and promises were all I provided Grace with. I haven't been focused at all on building a safe space for her. I haven't focused on her interests and needs. I've placed myself above her and she has never once complained. Have I finally pushed her too far? I used to believe that Grace would stick with me no matter what I threw at her, and she's done that so far.
Why the change now?
I bet Nora had something to do with it. I could still feel her prickly gaze of disgust from the last time we saw each other. She must have planted ill thoughts in Grace's mind. Would she listen though? I wasn't too sure now.

Grace's P.O.V

I released the breath I didn't even know I was holding as soon as Jeremy's car pulled out of the driveway. I watched him, through the window in Levi's room, until he turned the corner and disappeared. Immediately, I went to Levi's bed and scooped him up. I nursed him as I went through my thoughts.
I probably shouldn't have provoked Jeremy like that this morning. I don't know what came over me. Perhaps knowing that I had made the decision to leave had given me an ego boost. I hadn't told him that I was leaving him. I knew that if I did, then he wouldn't let me. He would beg me to give him another chance and I knew, deep down without a shadow of a doubt that I would. I'd throw all my concerns aside and go running back to him.
I wasn't exactly sure about what I was doing. Nora had offered me a room in her apartment across town and I'd accepted. I would probably have to get a job to support myself. I wasn't sure if leaving would make a difference though. If Jeremy had wanted to change, then he would have made effort to do so. What if time apart beared no fruit? Would I be willing to end our marriage? Those were questions I didn't want to answer. Not yet.