Two wrongs make it right

First sight

Friday is the start of my torment. Weekdays are bad but weekends are hell.

At work they notice my cuts and bruises but they are polite enough not to say anything.

Friday is only good when Duncan goes out. I tried to go out once before. I had fun and danced all night. But when I came home Duncan broke one of my ribs and split my lip.

I guess he could have done worse.

Friday I always get home early. Today was the same home at two in the afternoon.

Bruno loves the weekends it's his time.

I walk in the door and I can hear him whining at the back door.

I quickly get dressed in my tights a singlet and joggers. I try to find my hat but it's hidden. I grab the dog lead and brace myself as I open the back door.

Bruno barrels in the door and loops around until he realises I am holding the lead. He sits and shakes with excitement, the tip of his tail hits the ground.

Bruno hears the clip of the lead on his collar. He doesn't hesitate to drag me out the front door. I pull it locked knowing the spare key is in the safe spot.

We walk around the block and the neighbours around the side and slightly to the back are taking their groceries in. Both of the men stop.

I am sure they are brothers. They both stop and smile at me. Just like two animals caught in the headlights.

"hey, nice dog" the tall one with brown hair waves.

I smile. He has a strong jaw five o'clock shadow and wearing a set of hi-viz overalls tied around his waist showing his strong tattooed arms and chest.

The other guy is very similar a strong jaw a little shorter and clean cut and clean skin.

I stare a little and keep walking.

*****

I walk back past the neighbours, after a five kilometre run with Bruno. Both cars are still there but I can't see anything.

We walk to the front of home. I can hear glass shatter. I hesitate to go in. Bruno hides behind me.

I pull the key from the ledge above the door. I unlock it as slowly as possible as to not disturb Duncan.

As I let Bruno off he tries to run and hide as quickly as possible. I close the door.

Duncan barrel charges me from around the corner. My head hits the door behind me splitting open the scab from earlier in the week.

I am stunned.

Duncan starts screaming at me. Yelling. I can't understand. I have no idea what is going on. He stands me up grabs me by the hair and walks me into the kitchen. He throws me down and my hands land in the glass. I cry in pain.

"Where were you?" the only clear thing I can hear.

"A walk" I sob.

Duncan starts yelling again "I couldn't find you!".

He is yelling again.

I panic and try to clean the glass up. But my blood is everywhere. it's dripping down my hands.

Duncan stops carrying on and sees the blood and grabs my hand and takes me to the sink.

"I'm sorry baby" he dotes on me "I'm sorry baby" he repeats it over and over again.

Then the door bell rings.

Duncan looks at me and I look at him puzzled.

Duncan goes to the door I can hear him open it.

"Hi sir, We had a complaint from your neighbours and wanted to check everything is alright"

I hear this and know it's the police my heart sinks. If Duncan doesn't like this I will be in trouble. Especially if he thinks I called them.

"Yes, everything is fine" Duncan answers I can hear the anger building already in him.

"who complained?" Duncan asked.

The police ignored him "Can we please see the woman who lives here?" I quickly wrap my hands trying to stop the blood.

"Hi" I pop my head around the corner.

"Hi mame, We're just checking everything is all good" they are eyeing my face trying to assess if I'm okay.

"Yep, I'm all good" I put on a smile I know they have spotted the tear stains on my face.

"Do you mind stepping outside for a minute?" one gestures to me to walk out.

I do as I am told. I have never been one to go against an officer of the law. I walk out from behind the corner holding the towel in my hands still.

The one officers eyes fixate on my hands.

One officer walks me out to their car He stands tall and strong. He is intimdating and safe all at once.

"Are you okay?" he asks looking at my hands.

I nod "A glass broke and I fell over. it's not so bad".

The officer grabs a first aid kit out of the patrol car "ok, has he hurt you?" the officer asks fishing tweezers and gauze out.

"No" I lied. I can't believe I lied.

"OK" the officer grimaces as he unwraps my hands "If you want to get out of here and don't feel safe to do so just nod at me" I'm not sure if I'm relieved or scared that he knows the truth.

"Honestly officer I'm fine" I whince as he pulls a piece of glass out of my hand.

I completely forget about the bruising on my neck and the blood that is possibly on the back of my head.

We stand there in silence as the officer finishes fixing my hands. He packs up and hands me some gauze with a card. I quickly put it in my pocket.

"When you are ready for me to help you call me" He whispers.

He walks me back to the front door. I can feel all the neighbours eyes on us. The police go and I lock the front door.

After standing there for a few minutes I hear something.

"kaarra" Duncan calls out "Kkkaarrrraa".

I run down the hall to get to my bedroom. I can lock the door. My hair betrays me. Duncan grabs my hair and pulls me. I fall backwards hitting the floor with a thump.

Duncan bends down to me.

"You called the cops, you called the cops didn't you?"

"No" I sob uncontrollable.

"Don't lie to me" his hands are in a fist.

"No Duncan I didnt" I scream.

"Don't lie to me!" Duncan yells he picks me up by my hair and winds up.

"Please Duncan, No" I scream.

His fist hits my face, seering pain radiates through my skull.

"Please dont" is all I can get out before he hits me again.

I feel the next punch to my jaw it radiates through my skull again.

He drops me on the floor. I don't move.

"Look what you made me do, you made me do this" he circles me like a hungry shark "It's your fault" Duncan kicks me and walks out of the house I can hear his car start and take off.

I can hear banging on the door. I try to get up it's hard. my whole body is sore.

I hobble to the door trying not to move too much. I open the door and see the two guys from around the corner.

"oh hey" The tattooed one says as he looks me up and down "we just wanted to make sure your okay" I can see he is looking at my face.

"I'm fine" I lie, I don't want Duncan to come home and do more.

"Sorry but you don't look fine" the clean skin one says.

"Look he will be back any minute and I don't want to make it worse" I say as I try to close the door.

"Sorry, I'm not taking that as an answer" the tattoo one pushes into my house. He walks into the kitchen and sees the glass still on the floor.

The clean skin guy walks in after and I follow them around dumbstruck.

"What do you want?" I grab a chair and sit.

"To help" the clean skin one says.

"I'm Ben and that is my little brother Tristan" The tattooed one says.

"We don't agree with how he's treating you" Tristan says.

I sit there and nod feeling a little bit better.

"where's the broom" Ben asks.

Just outside the back door. I point to the door.

"where are your towels" Tristan asks.

"the bottom draw are tea towels" I point in the kitchen.

Tristan grabs a towel out of the draw and ice out of the freezer. He hold the towel to my face.

The two men clean up the mess of glass and blood. They tend to my face and head as best they can.

I feed Bruno early and just go to bed. I dont hear Duncan at all my door is locked as always.

I wake to the Black of night not one little bit of light can be seen but I can feel arms around me. I can hear a soft snore coming from next to me. I sit up, the room goes silent.

I touch his hand and get warm electric tingles through my body. His hand wraps around mine. He gently pulls me back down to the bed. Sleep comes knocking again.

I feel my eyes open at sunrise. He let's go of me slowly and gets out of bed.

I look up to watch the shadow climb out the window.

Is this what Duncan has been doing?

The shadow turns around and looks at me. I strain to try to look him in the eyes. I can't see his eyes. After a few moments he runs off. I decide this is the time to get up.

I walk out of the bedroom as quiet as possible. I walk to the kitchen and see Duncan pulling into the driveway. He's on the phone.

I stand near the front door and listen.

"I know baby" he locks the car door "we will be together soon" he fumbles with his keys.

He puts the lock in the door "I always enjoy my stay at your place" Duncan stops opening the door "I've gotta go" he hangs up the phone.

I quickly move back to the bedroom. That wasn't Duncan in bed. My heart stops.

Duncan walks into the house.

"Kar rah" he shouts looking for me at least he sounds happy.

I risk it "good morning" I smile at Duncan.

"I missed you babe" Duncan walks up to me and pulls me into an embrace. His lips hit mine and it just feels wrong.

(CONTENT WARNING)

I squirm in his hold trying to get out. He holds me harder forcing his tongue into my mouth.

I pushed him away. "No".

He pulls me into him again. shoving me against the wall behind me.

Duncan rips my pyjama shorts. I let out a horrible scream. Duncan proceeds to push me around.

"No" I keep pushing him away. It's like he doesn't want to understand.

Duncan comes back and pushes his face into me again. I scream again. I hear banging on the front door.

It's enough to get Duncans attention. I run into my room and lock it.

I hear Duncan open the door and I hear a male voice challenging him. I curl up on the floor. The voices escalate.

I hear a thump and the door bang.

"Hey! are you okay?" It's Ben.

I can hear him taking slow foot steps through the house. I open the door a crack and see his deep ocean blue eyes.

I flick the door open and wrap my arms around him, I shudder uncomfortably while crying on him. I feel warm comforting tingle go through me. Ben freezes for a moment as if he didn't expect me to hug him then I feel his hands on my back holding me close.

"Where is he?" I sniffle.

Ben shuffles and let's go of me getting uncomfortable.

"um, well I didn't know" Ben utters.

"Didn't know what?" I question.

"I punched him. He's out cold on the floor" Ben spills his beans quickly.

I breathe a sigh of relief and sit on my bed.

Ben sits next to me trying to be supportive.

"What do you want to do?" I can feel Ben's eyes on me.

I make the mistake of looking into them.

"I don't know" my eyes water I can't hold it back.

Ben just pulls me into his chest and holds me there.

We spend a few hours on the bed sitting in silence. I know he can't stay here all day it's nice he saved me.

"I think I will stay" I break the silence.

Ben looks rejected but accepts it.

"I'll give you my number if you have any problems please call me" He says taking my phone off the night stand.

"will do" I appreciate his help this morning.

I dont think Ben needs me playing damsel in distress calling him every day.

Ben leaves, I hear him pull the front door closed.

I walk out of my room to see Duncan down the hallway sprawled out on the floor. Apart of me really enjoys this another part of me feels sorry for him.

I step over him and close the door.

After all this I just want to shower and read.

I shower and scrub my skin hard. I feel so dirty. Nothing can make me feel clean now.

I get into my loose shorts and shirt. I pull out Homer's Odyssey I have had a bit of history with this book. Bruno curls up next to me licking my shin everytime I pat him.

*****

I wake up to darkness. I'm not being cuddled. I don't feel warm or have that magnificent electricity going through me. I feel a bit lost without it.

I lay back down one more day to survive.