You Are On My Mind

Don't Listen To Him

"Wanna know why you cry too much?"
"Do I?"
"Of course you do. You cry at the thought of baby ducklings."
"Ducklings are the babies, you twit."
"You cry too much cause deep down, you know he doesn't love you. Deep down, you know it's just for the sex. And when he's not satisfied anymore, he'll leave you high an' dry. You know this, and you cry about it every time you think about it. Which must be often, cause you cry a lot. And he hates it when you cry. Not cause you're in pain, but cause it's f****** annoying."
"That's a lie! You're lying! He loves me. He loved me even before we had sex. And when I hurt, he hurts. So there."
"Beauty, Lins. Trust me; I've seen all a million times before. You're gonna be an ex-wife soon."
The conversation swirled her head all day long. Was what he said true? Did her husband only stick around for the orgasms? Did he really find her crying annoying?
"You've seemed.... thoughtful today."
"Huh?" Linda looked up from the floor.
"What's on your mind, baby?"
She chewed her lip, could she tell him? "Do you think I cry too much?"
"What?"
"Do you?"
"What does that have to do with-"
"Answer the question, Danny! Do you think I cry too much?"
Danny sighed, "it doesn't matter what I think. What mat-"
"So you do think I cry a lot?"
"Why is this so important to you right now?"
"Cause I wanna know, Dammit! Answer the damn question. Do you or do you not think I cry too much?"
He sighed, this time in frustration. "Fine. Fine. Yes, I think you cry too much. I didn't want to say it, but now you know. I wasn't going to say anything because I don't know how your brain or body functions. Not fully, anyways. I don't know what's going on with you suddenly. You're acting like I've poisoned you or something. Like I've committed this terrible act against you, and the only thing I can think of that's even remotely somewhat terrible is that I ate your last chocolate."
"That was you?"
"Yes, okay? That was me. Now tell me why you're acting this way."
Linda looked away and clamped up. She frowned, crossing her arms, the conversation playing her mind. He doesn't really love you. He's annoyed with you. He's gonna leave you. "Do you love me?"
"Do I love—? Of course I love you, sweetie. Why would you ask such a thing?"
"Are you annoyed with me?"
"Only when you won't shut up about New Kids On The Block." His smirk turned into a frown when she didn't laugh at his joke.
"Are you gonna leave me?"
"Am I gon— Linda, where the hell are these ideas coming from?"
She looked him in the eye briefly, then shifted her gaze to the floor, ashamed.
Danny's "oh" was barely audible as he knelt down in front of her. He put his hands on her knees, "Don't let him beat you. Never let his words get to you." He wiped the tear away from her cheek with his thumb. "Whatever he says about me is a blatant lie. Unless the words are Danny loves you more than anyone or anything on this whole wide world, and will do anything to ensure your safety and happiness... don't believe him."
"He gets into my head," Linda cried, "I don't know why. But he does, and I hate it. And I'm crying now, and you hate me—"
"Woah. I could never hate you. And I only hate when you cry because you're hurting, and that makes me hurt." He stood and half crawled over Linda to his side of the bed. "C'mere."
Linda sniffed and shuffled into his arms, burying her head into his chest.
"I love you so much, sometimes.... I space out at work, just thinkin' 'bout you. Cause you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, that I've ever said yes to. And I love you with all I am." Danny kissed her head, stroking her hair. He continued telling her of his love, holding her tightly. Tomorrow, when she would be at work, he planned to kill his brother in law.