Alpha Biker's Doll

2

Seraphina

Sobbing in my room after my hand was harshly burned by Julie, I let the coolness of the floor soak into my bones. At this point, I no longer care about my appearance. Who do I want to impress, after all? My husband and I were married through arrangements done from our families, it was after I fell in love with him. Yet his behaviour with me changed instantly right after our honeymoon period.

He abused me, forced himself on me and left me to bear pain while he was soundly asleep. I was nothing but a mere toy to fulfill his needs until Julie stepped into his life. Now he only treats me as a maid, someone who can look after his house and prepare hot meals for him and his mistress. Perhaps this is just in my destiny and I am never meant to be loved by him. I haven’t done anything wrong to be treated this way. I was a cheerful woman with ambitions until Jacob stepped into my life.

Another day begins with his harsh beating and I find no energy in my body to even move a muscle. My entire body is burning with fever and I manage to sit back as he begins to order me to prepare breakfast for both Julie and him. “Jacob, I have a fever. Can you please bring me medicine?” grasping onto my arm, he twists it with a force that gives me unbearable pain and then he seizes the hand which is burnt from the soup.

I yell in pain, apologizing to him. “Jacob, please. It hurts!” I plead and he enjoys hurting me. The evil grin on his face intensifies and he utters, “That’s good if that hurts.” With a strong push, he lets go of me and commands me to prepare breakfast. “Stop this act and get in the kitchen!” Weak and dizzy, this is just what I feel as I step into the kitchen. I make a quick breakfast for both of them and prepare the table, I see Julie dressed in a blazer, looking like a businesswoman.

I always dreamt of dressing just like that. However it's just a pair of clothes that have been left for me. Half of the dresses are ripped for repeat over the years. Jacob treats his mistress like his wife; he spends on her, leaving nothing for me. Its not like I am jealous and take a stand for myself, its just that I have learned to compromise. Walking towards the table as I carry empty plates in my hands, my legs begin to tremble and there is darkness appearing in front of my eyes.

“Walk fast, you i***t!” Julie exclaims, her voice starts to fade in the background and the plates falls from my hands. I hear a gasp release from her mouth and she throws a cold look at me before I finally give in and darkness appears in front of my eyes, blurring my vision. I am still awake, dizzy and not entirely fainted yet, keeping my eyes open seems like wasting a lot of energy. “Is she dead?” Julie gets on her knees before me and asks Jacob who stutters, “I - I don’t know.”

Judging by their voices, I can tell that they are easily terrified. “If she dies, we are to be blamed, Jacob. She has bruises all over her body!” Jacob doesn’t say anything and Julie exclaims, “Say something, for f**k sake!” I feel my throat is starting to become dry, and I want to drink water right now. Muttering under my breath, I can barely speak, “Water…” Jacob exclaims, asking Julie to grab a glass of water. A few moments pass by, and a huge splash of water is spattered on my face, leaving me to gasp in horror.

I watch Julie pursing her lips in a thin line as she exchanges looks between Jacob and me. “See, she is only pretending. She won’t die soon.” Jacob and Julie are leaving, and I am following them like a little girl, begging them to buy me medicines. “Please, Jacob. My wound is not healing on its own. I beg you!” I exclaim and realise that it's of no use as their car drifts away.

I begin to cry as I find myself in the middle of the road. I turn around as I wipe my tears, and there stands a woman in her late eighties. She smiles at me as she approaches me and warmly asks, “Are you alright? Do you need any help?” Hesitating, I shake my head as I stutter, “No, I am not supposed to talk to anyone.” The old woman softly chuckles at me and sweetly responds, “It's okay to ask for help, dear. Come with me, I live next door.”

To my surprise, I had never seen this woman before. As a matter of fact, I haven’t stepped out of the house, as Jacob just wants me to stay at home. The house of the old woman is warm, filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies. I walk to the sofa with her as we are both seated together. She pours me a warm cup of tea and says, “Write me the names of the medicines you want. I can buy them for you.”

I immediately shake my head, my eyes are wide with astonishment, “No, ma’am. Thank you -” she puts her cold hand on me and gasps, realising that I have a fever. “My God! You are burning!” She quickly rushes to the kitchen cabinet, finding a box of medicines, and she brings one to me, tossing a tablet into my palm. “Have it.” Her eyes fall onto the wound on my hand and she hesitates before she asks, “Is your husband abusive?” My breath hitches in my throat, I remember the horrifying words of Jacob when he threatened me not to tell anything to anyone.

I shake my head one more time, and she sighs deeply as she blurts out, “See, this is the problem with women like you. You don’t speak up for yourself and let the men take advantage of your silence.” In a soft muttering voice, I ask, “What is it I can do? He will kick me out of his house.” The woman leans back on the sofa, a frown creasing her forehead as she exclaims, “Then get out! Go and live your life, at least.” I sit there in astonishment, my mind makes no progress, yet I just take her words in.