The car dashboard in front of me.
The grip on me leaving bruises, withoutactuallyhitting me.
But never actually hit me.
Until that night.
“Ryan, I’m not lying to you. I was at work. Where else would I be?” I pleaded. “You have my location.”
Something switched in his brown eyes. Something I’d never seen before, and could never unsee again.
“Don’t lie to me!” He grabbed my stethoscope with both hands, yanking me towards him.
I reached my hands out, a useless shield between us.
“What? You think I’m going to hurt you?” he laughed.
Don’t mock me, Ryan.
“They just needed me. The ED was swamped.”
You’re scaring me, Ryan.
“Your job isn’t that important, Sunny. You work in a small-town hospital. I needed you here tonight! A wife to her husband!”
Originally, Ryan was supportive of my career, but when his parents died and their business was handed to him, he felt like it was my job as a wife to stay home while he made the money. He wanted a traditional wife, but he should’ve known after years together, I’m anything but traditional. If I’m being honest, I don’t think he thought I’d actually follow through with my schooling.
My job is important too, Ryan.
He shoved me off, making me stumble on my feet.
“I hate when you fucking say that Ryan! My job is just as important. Just because I don’t make as much as you do doesn’t mean it’s any less important than yours!” I fought back.
“Why is it so crazy to you for me to just want a partner who will be home? To cook, to clean, to be home when I’m home! You’remy wife, act like it.”
“Okay, you’re just saying this because you’re hungry and upset.” I headed straight for the door, trying to leave so I could cool down and let him get out of this mood before anything else was said that shouldn’t be.
Before I could even know what he’d do next, his hands were around my stethoscope and slamming me against the wall.
He started tochokeme with it.
I could feel my body begging for the oxygen he now restricted. My hands uselessly clawed at him, but he didn’t even flinch.
“Ryan!” I wheezed.
This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t be fucking happening.
I am now a statistic.
He finally let loose but his anger didn’t relent. I was coughing and trying to get my bearings and fell to the ground, crawling towards the door, but I couldn’t escape.
“Do you see how crazy you make me?” he yelled and grabbed me, throwing me on the floor.
“Ryan please, we just need to talk about this!” I started to get up, but he kicked me, sending shocks of pain through my ribs, and I fell back down, unable to get the air he’d stolen.
With a cough, blood splattered on the floor and all over me, hanging from my mouth with drool as I tried to suck in air.
Through the haze of black dots taking over my vision, he sank onto his knees and grabbed my hips, pulling me under him. With his knees, he pinned my thighs down. Using one hand, he secured both of mine above my head.
