Sadden Heart
1172 Words
Just then, a car honked outside, its headlights shining through the rain-soaked darkness.
To my surprise, it was the same man from earlier, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Need a ride to the bus stop?" he asked, his voice raised above the rain. "You can find a bus there."
I hesitated, unsure.
Rachel nudged me. "Go. You might make it home tonight."
I nodded, grabbing my bag.
"Thank you," I said, accepting his offer.
We arrived at the bus stop, but it was deserted. The rain showed no signs of letting up.
"I'm sorry," the stranger said, "looks like you're out of luck."
I nodded, considering my options.
"Let me drive you home," he offered.
I hesitated, unsure.
But the rain and darkness left me few alternatives.
"Thank you," I accepted.
As we approached my estate, anxiety gripped me.
"Please drop me here," I requested, pointing to the entrance.
The stranger raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded firmly.
"Yes."
He pulled over, and I quickly stepped out.
"Thank you for the ride," I said.
"Anytime," he replied, his eyes lingering.
I rushed toward the gate, my heart pounding.
Julian could be watching.
As I stepped into the darkened house, a shiver ran down my spine. The blackness was oppressive, a physical manifestation of Julian's presence.
I saw him sitting, his hands moving with deliberate precision as he loaded his gun. My heart sank.
Fresh wounds scored his skin, a map of violence. Fear trembled within me.
I moved swiftly , shedding my wet clothes, changing into a nightgown. Julian's gaze never wavered.
"Can I treat your wounds?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Julian's eyes locked onto mine.
No response.
No acknowledgment.
Just an unyielding silence.
I felt a familiar chill spread through my veins.
I retreated to the bedroom.
As I drifted into sleep, my worn-out body surrendered to the darkness. But my peace was short-lived.
Suddenly, a hand covered my mouth, and a wet, rough kiss claimed my lips. Fingers grasped my breast, sending waves of fear and pleasure through me.
A primal moan escaped my lips as I struggled to break free.
My eyes snapped open to find Julian above me, his face twisted in a mix of passion and fury.
"Julian!" I whispered, trying to push him away.
But he was unrelenting.
His kisses deepened, suffocating me.
His touch grew rougher, leaving bruises.
As Julian's hands tore at my clothes, I felt a mix of fear and resignation.
His grip on my face, turning it into the pillow, was suffocating.
I couldn't breathe.
Couldn't escape.
My mind raced: Why does it always have to be like this?
He grasped my hips, lifting them upward.
My body folded, forced into submission.
His slow entry burned.
Pain and pleasure twisted together.
My lips parted in a silent scream.
A moan tore from my throat: "Argh..."
Shame washed over me.
Why did my body respond to him?
Why did I crave this?
my fists clenched, I surrendered.
My eyes squeezed shut.
Tears seeped into the pillow, but i'm still enjoying it.
Julian's grip on my hips tightened.
His thrusts deepened.
Julian's weight crushed me, his thrusts finally slowing.
Exhaustion and despair washed over me.
Our ragged breathing filled the silence.
I felt like a fragile, shattered vase.
His chest heaved against mine, a harsh reminder.
He pulled out, leaving me feeling hollow and used.
No words. No comfort.
He rolled off me, abandoning me to my thoughts.
As usual.
I'm trapped in this toxic cycle.
The bed creaked as he stood.
His footsteps faded, leaving me alone.
My gasps turned to silent sobs.
My body trembled beneath the blankets.
Sleep eventually claimed me, a fleeting escape.
I woke to an empty bed, Julian's absence a familiar ache.
As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the chill of the morning air slapped me awake. I rubbed the fatigue from my eyes, the memories of last night still hazy.
Julian was gone.
No surprise.
He always left without a word.
I stood, my bare feet padding on the cold floor. The apartment was quiet, except for the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen.
I trudged to the bathroom, flipping on the light switch. The brightness made me squint.
In the mirror, my reflection stared back—tousled hair, dark circles under my eyes, and...
A bruise on my neck.
Julian's mark.
My fingers instinctively reached for it, tracing the tender skin.
Could my adoptive parents have really allowed me to marry someone like Julian if they were my real parents?"
I felt saddened.
But the truth was more painful.
When debt and threats from other powerful families suffocated them, they chose to marry me off to Julian - a man with a reputation shrouded in darkness.
As I stood there, lost in thought, doubts crept in like a slow-moving fog, shrouding my mind in uncertainty. Could this marriage truly be meaningful? Or was it just a hollow facade?
The question stung, leaving a throbbing ache in my chest. I felt a pang of sadness, a heavy weight that settled in the pit of my stomach. Memories long buried began to resurface, like bubbles rising to the surface of a stagnant pond.
My mind drifted back to that fateful day, the day my world shattered into a million pieces. The sound of gunfire still echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of the violence that took everything from me. I could still smell the acrid scent of smoke, feel the warmth of my mother's blood on my skin.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I remembered my mother's desperate cry, her voice piercing the chaos. My father's protective embrace, his strong arms wrapping around me, trying to shield me from the horrors unfolding before us. My younger sisters' and brother's terrified faces, their eyes wide with fear, their tiny bodies trembling with each explosive sound.
And then, the silence.
The eerie stillness that followed the c*****e.
Our nanny, Maria, rushing me away, hiding me in a cramped closet, her trembling hands covering my mouth to stifle my sobs. Saving me from the same fate as my family.
She took me to the orphanage. I recalled the stark walls, the smell of disinfectant, and the feeling of abandonment that clung to me like a shroud.
Later, I was adopted into a new family, with a new name Alessia. But the scars remained
As I wiped away my tears, a steely determination hardened within me. I remembered why I married Julian in the first place.
I thought marrying him would give me the means to fight back against the world, to find the Mafia family that destroyed mine. But now, I realized Julian's love was a mirage.
He never truly looked at me, except when he wanted s*x.
His smiles were rare, reserved for business associates or social niceties.
Not for me.
His touch was calculated, designed to satisfy his desires, not mine.
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- Writer
