Another day, another ache.

The bruise around my eyes had somehow darkened and it looked worse than it felt. It was five thirty and already awake. It was still dark out. I rolled out of bed, grabbing my phone as I made my way towards the bathroom.

I flipped on the lights and left the door unlocked in case Mason wanted to use the toilet since it was conjoined. I made sure to wash my hair first before soaping up the rest of my body. I couldn't use much time in the bathroom since Mason got up at six and I had to get his breakfast ready.

Once I was done showering, I brushed and finally slipped out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist. I picked out my clothes, moisturized and slid them on, a white long sleeved shirt to cover some bruises on my arms and cargo pants, I didn't do anything on my hair and just left it to air dry.

I was dressed in time and quickly made my way to the kitchen. It was the first place I had to clean up in the house since Mason liked to eat at the kitchen table. I cleaned up everything, spraying antibacterial cleaner and wiping it down with a towel.

Breakfast consisted of toast, bacon and fresh hand squeezed orange juice. I was almost done with the toast when Mason walked into the kitchen. He was dressed already, smelling like the strawberry shower gel I had gotten. He was in a black shirt and a white shirt with a grey tie. His blonde hair was styled off his face. I remembered a time when one look at Mason made my heart skip a beat but now all I want to do is make sure I don't make a mistake. I was very self conscious of that.

"Good morning." I said, as I slipped the tray towards his end of the table. I always made Mason's food first, since he had to go to work and I could eat at any other time.

"Good morning to you, too." He said as he grabbed a fork. There was a tick in his jaw, I could see it as bright as day, so I had to tread carefully.

Instead of making myself breakfast, I left Mason alone in the kitchen and went into the room to grab his office bag. I made sure there was no stain on it and it was clean. I grabbed his wallet and phone and quickly made my way back to the kitchen. I placed his wallet and phone on the table, his bag right by his feet and then left to get the car keys.

"Everything's ready." I said, keeping my hands to myself. Mason had finished his breakfast and had drank half of his orange juice. 

"Thank you, baby." Mason said, reaching for my hand. I let him pull me closer to him, my hand still in his. Mason pressed his face against my chest, taking a deep breath and letting it out.

"Are you alright, Mason?"

"I'm good. I won't be coming home tonight, Deri, there's a work seminar at Hexi Hotel and it's gonna end late. I'll just get a room there." Mason said and for a certain reason I got excited. Mason wasn't gonna be home today.

It's like a public holiday announcement.

"That's alright. Hexi is hours and hours away, you can stay in the hotel." I said, rubbing his shoulder.

Once it was fifteen past seven, Mason pressed a kiss to my cheek and another to my nose before leaving the house. Once he was gone, I fell onto the nearest couch and curled up, tugging on the throw pillow and holding it tight.

Mason wasn't going to be home and there were a good number of things I could do. I looked down at my shirt and back up, my gaze resting on the curtains. The sun was out now, sunlight still coming in despite the drawn curtains.

I hummed to myself as I just kept staring at the curtains. They were white with little black dots all over it, the spots weren't even visible unless you got closer to it. I don't know how long I stared there for but I eventually fell asleep.

By ten I was up and by eleven thirty I was done cleaning the house, including washing of the toilet and bathroom. Everywhere was clean and so I made myself breakfast and switched on the tv. There were having a friends marathon on Comedy Central and that was what I wanted to watch.

Breakfast for me was toast and some egg, cold water instead of orange juice. I put the plates in the dishwasher once I was done and quickly went into the bathroom to apply some ointment onto the bruise and slipped on my sunglasses.

I might go out for a walk later and the last thing I needed to forget were my sunglasses. I could hear movements outside the door and I wondered if the new neighbor was finally moving in today. I wondered if it was a family or maybe it was an older woman. Anyway, it's not like I'd even get close to them anyway, most of my other neighbors don't. Half of them don't talk to me and the others just give me the usual, hey, hi, evening.

Yeah. It was...lonely as I have come to find out.

Not even Mason makes that feeling go away.

I practiced a little with my sandbox and once I was one, I decided to take my walk. I grabbed my phone and my wallet and then I was out the door, making sure to check twice if I had locked it. Sunglasses on and a jean jacket pulled on, I walked down the stairs, slipping on my AirPods.

Balcony Hotel by Lambert came on and I hummed along with the song, the soft sounds of the piano and other instruments filling my ears. I walked with my hands tucked into my pocket, loving the sunlight against my skin. I had half the fear that Mason might actually come home but the other half of me told me to relax.

This wasn't the first time Mason was sleeping out. And not once had he come home early during those times. So...

I'm gonna do it. I'm going to relax.

Mid-walk I sent Mason a text, asking how his day was going and got a thumbs up emoji in response.

I walked for so long and got so far that I had to use the bus. It took thirty minutes more to get to the grocery shop. I got a basket and picked out some fruits, got two frozen Chinese oriental chicken noodles stir fry and I even got one of those facial masks. I walked with a skip in my step.

Dinner consisted of me humming to myself as I cooked the stir fry. By ten I was in an old oversized tshirt, and sleep shorts, sunglasses on the table beside the couch. I was laughing at Ross saying he's fine when the door was suddenly pushed open and Mason stormed in.

I could smell it before I saw him.

The alcohol.

Mason was drunk.

I got off the couch so fast and took a couple steps back, left hand rubbing my right arm. "Y-you're back." I said, fear cripping up my body. I don't have anything made for him and he hates frozen food and food not freshly made, so I couldn't even cook him stir fry. Oh god.

"Welcome home." I said, moving towards him. "Let me take your jacket."

Mason looks around as he takes off his jacket and hands it to me. "I tell you I'm not coming home and you let the house turn out like this." I'm Mason spat, rolling up the sleeve of his shirt.

I... I ...

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to have a little snack." I said as Mason rests his gaze on the open bags of Doritos that was beside the sunglasses and... oh fuck! I left crumbs! I left crumbs. I tossed the jacket to the side as I ran but Mason was faster. He grabs me by the hair and slams me to the ground. I let out a loud cry as I cradled my head, I scrambled back, my entire body filled with fear.

Mason stalked forward and grabbed me by my hair again. He drags me towards the room and shuts the door, so my noise doesn't attract the attention of the neighbors.

"I tell you I'm going to a seminar and the first thing you do is litter my fucking house." Mason spat and this time his cost hit my face, hitting me in the same eyes that were already bruised. The pain was explosive, it hurt so much it felt like I could breathe.

There was a loud ringing in my ears.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I swear I won't do it again." I pleaded, preying my best to crawl away from him but I could open one eye, it hurt so much. Mason's leg hits my side, forcing me to the ground.

"I work my ass off for the two of us and this is what I get! I wanted to come home and hold you but instead you litter my house with crumbs!" Mason yelled, accentuating each word with a hit to different parts of my body. I was crying now, tears slipping down my face, lips forming pleas and letting them out.

"I'm gonna teach you not to do stupid shit like that again." Mason said as he stumbled towards the bedside table. He lifts the lamp and my flight instinct kicks in. I crawled as fast as I could until I got to my feet, I pressed against the walls as I moved, I didn't have enough strength to move without a little help, a little pressure. My vision was a bit blurry and I was crying.

"Get back here!" Mason said, throwing the lamp at me. It missed me by an inch, it hit the wall and shattered into tiny pieces. Mason reached for me and for the first time ever I pushed him off, crying as I pushed him off.

Someone

Anyone please help

Help

I pulled open the door and began to run, I ran down the corridor but there was no one. No one had ever helped me before. I ran up the stairs, crying harder with each step. Everything hurts but I needed to get away.  I needed help. Please. Please. Please help me. Someone please. I got to the door and just started banging on it. I kept hitting it, hoping there was someone there.

I was so tired. I was in so much pain. I rest my head against the door and just let out a loud sob. The door was suddenly pushed open and I fell forward. I fell right into someone's arms and that's when my lights went out.

My eyes closed and I saw a tiny light, slowly and surely fading away.

—
That hurt to write.

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