She Belongs to Me (Rewritten Version)

Chapter Twenty Four

Emily:

Vincent walked away from me without saying a word after beating me black and blue with his belt, using the metal buckle several times to really get his point across. There were three large welts already swelling on my legs from where he struck me, and I couldn't even open my left eye. I had never been beaten by another person before. The physical and emotional pain was so severe that I could hardly breathe.

I wasn't going to make it out of this alive.

He would lose his temper again eventually.

I felt like I was within an inch of my life now.

Even my ribs felt like they had been bruised from the beating.  My tied hands trembled behind my back as I heard the sound of the front door opening.  He had only been away for about ten minutes, but it felt like I had been sitting here alone for an eternity.

He walked back into the living room with a handful of flowers he had picked from outside.  "Emily," He said, his voice hollow. It took him a while to speak the next words.  "I'm sorry I had to do that."

I didn't say anything. What could I say?

"Here, let me untie your hands." He stood behind me and used his pocket knife, the same one used to stab his doctor, to cut my hands free.

I tried to move my arms, but they were too stiff.

He grabbed my wrists and massaged them. "I know you must think I'm a monster."

You are a monster.

He stood up and pulled a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer, gently placing it over my eye. "I didn't mean to strike your beautiful face. This should help with the swelling. Would you mind holding it there while I tend to your other wounds?"

"Don't bother." I said, "I can take care of myself."

"You need to let me help you."

"Why can't you just leave me alone?"

He removed the bag of peas from my eye and picked up the flowers, displaying them with sorrow all over his face.  "I said I was sorry, Emily.  I know I hurt you, and I'm trying to make it up to you."

"You think some stupid flowers are going to make me feel better about what you did?"

"This was all your fault!" He roared, tossing the flowers down.  "If you wouldn't have pretended to care about me, none of this would've happened!"

"I wasn't pretending to care," I said, "I really do-"

"Don't you fucking dare say it.  Every word that has come out of your mouth has been a damn lie."

"What do you expect me to do!?"  Tears gushed from my eyes, stinging my wounds.  "You beat the shit out of me every time I resist you.  I have to protect myself somehow."

"You don't have to be fake with me."

"Yes, I do."

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

He picked up the flowers and tossed them in the trash can. "I thought I could make this work, but it's obvious you'll never love me like I love you."