Unraveled

Chapter Eight: A Day In My Life

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."

-Madeleine Albright

__________________________

"Starling"

" A body has been found"

Hearing those words, Sam's heart skipped a beat. She didn't make a sound so the voice on the other line continued " A female body has been found at the dump site"

After getting the location she said " I'll be right there " In a second she was getting dressed. She put on a black T-shirt with her black jeans and boots. She splashed some water on her face and wiped her hands on her hair to tame it. Throwing on her leather jacket she grabbed her keys and left the house. Since it was too late or maybe too early, there was no traffic and in less than 15 minutes she was at the dump site.

Sam waved her badge in front of the officers at the scene and they let her through, holding up the 'DO NOT CROSS' barricade for her. She gave them a firm nod and walked towards the body. CSI was already examining the crime scene. She looked at the covered body, audibly swallowing she put the badge back on her belt. Her hands were slightly trembling and her palms were sweating. She asked " What do we have here?!" While inching closer to the white sheet covering the body. She took a deep breath, ignoring the awful smells around her and remove the cloth from the body's face.

She blinked her eyes open. She could feel how swollen they were and the stinging she felt only confirmed her eyes were blood red. She tried to move but a strong arm held her in place by her waist. Frowning her eyebrows and shutting her eyes and lips tightly then she wiggled her way out of his tight grip, wincing at the pain she felt with every move. He let out a sleepy groan then turned around. She froze for a second then quickly got up and went to the bathroom. She needed to take a shower to cleanse herself. Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, all she could see was a dead person. It was like she was looking at emptiness, if that makes sense. Like she was looking at nothing. She sure felt like a worthless nothing. Taking the piecee of clothe she had on; a short nightgown off, she jumped in the shower making sure to wash herself in cold water, so she won't waste the warm water on herself. That will anger him.

Even though she should be used to it, the cold water still hurt her skin and did not do anything for her sore body. And just when she thought she had no tears left in her, her eyes started stinging and fat drops fell from them. She stood in the shower trying to control her crying, while scrubbing her skin wanting to erase his touch. But no matter how rough she scrubbed, she couldn't erase it from her mind and soul.

After she got dressed quietly making sure not to wake him up, she left to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took out the ingredients she needed. He always had the same breakfast; scrambled eggs with bacon and a bowl of cereal. She cooked the eggs and bacon the poured the milk in the bowl then added the cereal just like he liked. Placing the plate on the table, making sure the fork, knife and the spoon were placed correctly on the napkin, she felt arms wrap around her waist and he planted a kiss on her neck which made her shiver.

" Good morning, butterfly"

After finishing his breakfast, he gave her his credit card so she'll be able to get some groceries. It was the only time she was allowed to leave the house. It wasn't always like that, when they first moved to this house she wasn't allowed to leave at all. But after beating her so bad once, he 'rewarded' her by allowing her to go once a week to the supermarket. But he never gave her cash. He made sure she would only use his credit card, that way he would know exactly what she bought and at what time.

When he left for work she was finally able to breathe. She made sure the house was clean and got ready to go to the supermarket. She only had an hour, that's all the time he allowed her to go and come back. So she always jogged to there. Once she entered the store, she grabbed everything on her list and put them in the cart and it took only took her 15 minutes. She wandered around between the aisles. She made it a habit to watch people, it was her way of feeling alive; through other people's lives. She noticed a couple picking a few things off a shelf, they seemed like they were in love. She made a silent prayer and wished that it will last for them.

Turning to another aisle, she saw a cute chubby little boy trying to reach a chocolate bar. He looked no older than three. Smiling at him, she picked him up and he grabbed the chocolate. He turned to look at her once she put him back on his tiny feet and gave her a big smile that warmed her heart. She always imagined herself with a tiny human in her arms. Before everything happened, she wanted to be a mom. But that was out of the picture now. A couple of minutes later, the mother of the chubby boy came looking for him and grabbed him away from her. The mother didn't seem happy with her standing near her child. The mother glared at her and left, telling the boy he shouldn't leave her side nor talk to strangers. As great of an advice as that, was her heart broke a little. Although, there was not much of it left to break.

She decided that was enough 'socializing' for the day and headed to the cash.

"…Pamela said more women are expected at the event next week"

" I really would love to go. It would be so cool learning some self-defense."

"You should go! It's next Tuesday exactly a week from today. The meeting starts at 8:00 a.m. At the women's Center."

" You know I need the money and I can't miss a shift…"

She didn't mean to eavesdrop but the girls cashiers weren't exactly whispering. Paying for her stuff using the credit card, she took the bags and hurried to the house. The girls' conversation playing in her head.

"What's on your mind, love?"

"N.. Nothing"

" Come on, tell me. I know you want to ask something."

They were sitting at the table, having dinner and he seemed in a good mood. She's been trying to build up enough courage to ask him this for a while now.

"I... I was thinking, if... If it's okay with you..."

" What? My little butterfly" he didn't sound angry and that gave her the courage she neede.

"Maybe... Maybe you could get me a phone..." She said it so fast that she wasn't sure he understood her. But, to her surprise, he smiled.

"You want a phone?" he questioned with a sweet tone.

" Only if it's okay with you... I could maybe play some games on it and and call you..."

"Sure, love. I'll get you a phone" he said wiping his mouth with a cloth and raising from his chair.

"Really!?"

"Of course.." he stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders "I'll get you a phone... So you could call other guys" His grip tightened around her shoulders. " You want to phone so you could send some dirty pictures to other men" At this point, he was practically digging into her skin and she hissed in pain.

"N..No, no..." But he didn't let her finish.

"You cheating dirty little b****!! Maybe you even want them to send you pictures as dirty as you are!" He grabbed her hair and slammed her head to the table so hard that she felt blood trickle from her brow down to her face.

"Love, I'm leaving. I will be late at work but I'll be here for dinner" He said kissing her neck and lips then left.

On her way to the supermarket, she couldn't help but think about what she heard the cashiers talking about the week before. And since her husband wouldn't be home till later that day she was debating on whether to go or not. She finally made a decision, she decided to buy what she needed then go check what was going on at the women's Center since it wasn't far from her way to the house.

Once she got there she put the bags behind the dumpster hiding them and walked in. The lecture had already started, but no one paid attention to her walking in. The speech was powerful, she could not deny that. But, it didn't feel like she could ever be the powerful girl it was addressing. When the other gorgeous woman started telling the story of the woman that succeeded in running away, she sccoffed internally but didn't show any emotions, she couldn't let anyone notice her. When she was about to get up and leave, the woman with brown hair spoke again, mentioning the pencil and paper under their seats that she did not see before. She thought about leaving anyways, but something in her begged her to stay and write something. She was angry! How could they judge her life?! She felt like every word they said was attacking her personally. And so, she decided to give them a piece of her mind.

Terrified... That's what she felt when the woman came after her. Was it possible she knew what she wrote?! She shook that idea and tried to smile. Fortunately the cut that was above her eyebrow healed and there wasn't any trace of it but a faded bruise, her sleeves hid the scratches and other marks. "Hey, thank you for coming…" There was something in the woman's eyes... Concerne maybe? But that didn't make sense. Why would a stranger be concerned about her?

She couldn't afford being delayed for much longer. Even if her husband was not coming home at any time soon. So she apologized and left quickly, she grabbed her stuff from behind the dumpster luckily they were still there and went straight to the house. But to her unfortunate luck, he was already there.

" So you finally decided to come home…"

After he was finished with her, he locked her in the spare room, right where he forced himself on her. She cried and sobbed silently, trying to cover herself with the torn clothes. Not knowing how or when, she drifted to sleep or more like lost consciousness.