My Perfect Love Story

Chapter 9: Normal

What does it mean to be Normal?

Is it the way we walk, the way we talk, our social state, or how we determine fate?

Maybe it's the role we play in society.

What's your Normal? 

Is carrying around green herbs in a bag, and trading it for money Normal?

Is getting straight A's Normal?

The fiery red lacerations that ruin her clean, smooth skin, are apart of her Normal.

Eyes that lured her into his realm, with no way out.

A smile that blinded her from another bruised woman on the road.

A soft caress on her cheek deafened her ears from reality. 

She smiles in adoration as she says to herself, "No man has ever treated me this way,"

She got comfortable.

So used to attracting vituperative personalities.

Sweet meaningless words that kept her living in a fantasy.

Not all fantasies have a happy ending.

Persuasion in the Devil's eyes is the killer of the demon's saint.

If I stand for nothing, I fall for anything.

_____

Mariana

Ever since I was young, I always tried to find love through validation. I already felt as if I didn't have a normal life with my abusive father and damaged mother. I just wanted to feel normal and have that affectionate experience that I never had growing up. I didn't expect it to come to this. I've never been caught up in compromising situations as such since I left Georgia. Does love usually feel like this? Is it normal to experience abuse and pain through love? I would rather be single than die from the cause of love, especially when it is unrequited by me.

The flow of uncomfortably cold water on my face awakened me from my sleep. Was I asleep? I wasn't awake. I gasped deeply as the water streamed into my nose and mouth, causing me to jump forward and cough obnoxiously. I began dry heaving as the saliva, that was once in my mouth, landed on the bed. Bed? I could've sworn I was in a dark, mysterious room. The silk, burgundy comforter made me furrow my eyebrows. I looked up wearily to witness an IV pole stand, connected to a drip bag, near the King-sized bed. 

The warm saliva began to drip from my mouth so, I raise my left hand to wipe my lips, yet I felt a sharp pain in my elbow pit area. I winced and swiftly moved my arm away from my face. I looked down at my forearm to see an IV hooked to my arm. "Well, look who's awake!" That voice was the answer to all questions I had in my head. "What am I doing here?" I couldn't be scared of him. Although I was, I refused to let him take advantage of my emotions. He sighed deeply, clearly amused at the facade of no emotion. "You've been asleep for three days if that's what you're wondering," His cold hands lingered on my forearm as he graced the IV in my arm.

I roughly snatched my arm from his touch, "That's not what I asked you," I looked up at him to meet his dark, intimidating eyes. We stared at each other, a glare on our faces, for minutes. Neither of us was ready to fold under the pressure that comes with a glare. Looking into his eyes can be scary and satisfying, depending on the moment. I stared into his mesmerizing eyes, they looked darker than usual. It reminded me of the hostility he has enacted upon me. I remembered every word he shared with me in a condescending tone. I still felt every slap, every grip, every touch he has laid on me. 

I felt my feet begin to shake as I began to get scared of the possible things he could do to me. My breath quickened as I feared death and the reincarnation of my mother's abusive love story. His eyes wandered nowhere as they stared deeply into my eyes. I couldn't find a trace of emotion on his face, which made me nervous. His laugh echoed in the room as he still set sight on my uninteresting, brown eyes. His smile was falsely bright as he laughed loudly as if he didn't have a problem in the world. I chose not to speak as I feared he was going crazy. 

His laughter ceased but he still had a huge smile on his face. "You never fail to surprise me, love," He gripped my forearm tightly, ripping the IV out of my arm. I shouted shortly as blood began to surface from the small hole in my arm. The isopropyl-filled gauge was placed on the tiny cut, causing me to hiss loudly. He cupped my chin coarsely, I looked up at him to see the residential glare on his face. "Don't test my patience, darling. As much as I love fun, I don't think you will enjoy it as much," His plump, wet lips were so close to my ear, his raspy voice was imprisoned in my head. Just hearing his voice made me careless of the words that came out of his mouth. 

His lips touched my cheek and I closed my eyes at the sensual feeling. To me it was sensual, but to him, it was a warning.

_____

My mind was focused on Michael's behavior toward me. I can't depict where his toxic energy originated since I've only known him for about 3 weeks. 

You thought it would be that easy to get rid of me?

You know nothing about the love I have developed for you.  

Don't think it will go unpunished.

My mind was spiraling with different questions, trying to understand why I am in this position. The love he has developed for me? I have zero experiences with true love, but I don't think this is how it works. How could he have loved me within three dates? Something isn't right. Well, a lot of things aren't right. 

Michael strode in carelessly, glaring at me before sighing loudly. "Love, come here," His gentle voice felt so real, but I knew it was too good to be true. I didn't know what he was capable of, but I do know I will find out soon. I just didn't want soon to be now so I walked to him, making sure to leave a generous distance between us. He scoffed before walking toward me, caressing my cheek as he parts his lips to talk, "What do you want to know, love?" My eyes widened. I didn't expect him to give me the option of gaining information, especially from him.

"We don't have time to think. I know you have many questions but you can only ask one," Michael sighed deeply as he was beginning to lose patience. It hasn't even been a minute. "How long have you known me?" I asked quickly, I tried to let it out before I started stuttering. Michael grinned at the question. He looked down with a solid smile on his face. I'm guessing he was reminiscing the moment. I knew there was no way he has only known me for 3 weeks.

"The Winter of 2012," Michael started. " It was Christmas. My family and I lived in the suburbs. We celebrated the holiday every year, we never missed a beat. We were in the middle of exchanging gifts when I saw a figure outside of our window. It was you. You looked so sad, I wanted to make you feel better. I wanted to be the ease of your pain. I followed you home and saw how you were living. I was enraged, " I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Is he serious? 

"I saw how depressed you looked. I vowed to take you out of that house if he touched you, I remember when he almost did but he knew better. I wanted to get you out of there so bad, but the more I saw you cry, the more I saw your beauty. Your beauty is displayed when pain arises. I fell in love with you right after your junior year. I never knew the feelings I felt for you existed." I took multiple deep breaths. 

"so, y-you stalked me?" I've never felt more frightened in my entire life. He rubbed my arm gently, as he noticed my nervousness. "Well, technically...you stalked me first by coming to my house," His smile made my heart stop as I grew fearful of everything this man consists of. Mom told me to stay home that afternoon, I should've listened. 

"Now, I still have to take action upon that bold, breakup you tried to propose," Just when things couldn't get worse. Now, I have to deal with a mysterious punishment that may or may not scar me for the rest of my life. Literally and metaphorically. Once again, black blindfolds covered half of my face, preventing me from seeing where I'm being taken. Also, I was swept off my feet by Michael as he began moving, I'm guessing, out of the bedroom.

Is it bad to feel scared and excited at the same time?

_____

We were back in the darkroom, which I soon realized was the basement. The difference between my time in the room and now was, it now had light. I felt restrained in the chair Michael strapped me in. The ropes were rough and constricting against my skin. I can see the red marks become visual on my arms as it begins to hurt the more I move. I couldn't sit still, the feeling of being caved in quickens my heartbeat. Michael placed me in the middle of the basement, the bright light shining against my skin.

"Love, it hurts me to see you pained. But you have to learn,"  Michael slowly walked around me, his hand lingering on the chair as men in black, ironed suits walked through the door with different sharp, weapons placed on top of the cotton, black towel cloth. "I'm not a student. What are those?" Michael hummed deeply at my reply, I can tell he was slowly losing patience for me. And I didn't care quite frankly. He walked over to the stand and picked up a tiny, long, sharp piece of silver that I knew could do serious damage to one's body.

"Maybe I should use this one, I can do a lot of things with this! I see you still haven't grasped who I am, baby," Michael walked towards me with a smirk on his face as he witnessed my eyes strictly on the sharp weapon as it beams in the light. He places the short knife under my jawline, rubbing it across my skin. The friction between my skin and the knife causes harmless cuts to my skin. "I will slice deeper if you continue to act so rebelliously," My skin began to sting as Michael runs the knife against my cut unintentionally. That's what I'd like to think at least. 

"What's my punishment?" I did a good job of maintaining my facade. I can tell he was becoming agitated by my slick remarks and well-deserved attitude. "When was the last time you talked to your besties?" A mocking smile was on his face as he asked me the question that made my heart drop. I haven't talked to them in days. Ever since Michael and I were getting 'serious', I made less time for them. I'm such a b***h. I can't believe I practically ignored my friends to make time for a guy who was way better at facades than I was.

"Myra and Amira? Am I right?" I glared at him, daring him to continue speaking. He seemed unfazed by my silent threat as he continued to taunt me with my guilt. "Yeah, well don't feel bad for ignoring them. They aren't even worried about you in the slightest bit." As soon as Michael said that, a projector stood a foot away from me, directed to the black wall in front of me. The projector shined against the wall as it showed Amira and Myra laughing, chatting, having an overall good time together. 

"Have you heard from Mariana?" Myra asked while enjoying a meal from Tropical Smoothies. "Honestly, I don't care, she's been so hung up on finding love, it's irritating," Amira said while rolling her eyes. "I know! She claims to be so independent but she is so desperate to find a man," My heart broke as they talked badly about me, breaking my heart slowly. They were friends I grew to love and appreciate so to hear them think so bad about me, it brought a tear to my eye. 

"How do you feel love?" I couldn't even answer him as he mocked my emotions. My facade was destroyed as the tears came plummeting down. "Your only friends disgracing your name to each other. How does it feel to be betrayed? To be neglected, only to feel like you neglected them? I went way on you since it's only day one. Your punishment isn't to feel guilty, this isn't a normal friendship. They lied in your face and made you look stupid. That's something I would never do. You are alone, feel lonely. You were never lonely these past years of your life, I tried to be in your life and you pushed me away. Never again will I let that happen!"  My body shook as the tears were shamelessly falling. Internal pain is so much worse than physical pain. 

He wanted to break me, he wanted to make me vulnerable. To take advantage of me. I've never been in a relationship, but this isn't normal.

_____

                                                                ~My Perfect Love Story~