Queen Pawn

I ran as fast as I could, tears streaming down my eyes. I felt my heart beating fast. I can't do this anymore. No. I slowed down, seeing that I was as far away from him and them as I could be. The stares, the voices—they're still in my head. I slowly fell to the ground. I've never felt this way before. How stupid of me to even think he'd change. I'm nothing but a trophy wife and an object. I'll never be worth loving in his eyes, but he went too far this time. Embarrassing me in front of the world, I felt my little heart being pierced by a thousand needles at once. I can't do this anymore. I slowed, stood up, and started walking, walking away from him and everything, hoping to live a life for myself and just be free. And away from the life he created for me, I don't want it anymore, I sniffed. I walked until I saw the glow of a high-end club. Yes. One night away from him. Forever, maybe. My makeup was already spoiled from the tears. I didn't care. I waltzed in anyway. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air as people were swaying to the music and screaming. I walked in and walked over to the toilet, cleaned up, and removed my makeup. I guess having to look good at all times helped because I had few makeup tools in my purse. I applied a little makeup; my eyes were still red from the tears, and my clothes were soiled a little bit. I didn't care. Tonight I'm going to end it all. I looked at myself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and walked out straight to the bar. “Ehm…a shot, please,” I said to the bar attendant. I looked around. I didn't fit in, but who cares? I tapped my hand on the table following the music's rhythm. My drink was ready. I poured it down in one gulp. “Another,” I gestured to the bar attendant. I took three more shots. “You really have a lot to forget, uh...” a muscular voice said. “Hmm,” I said, looking up to see who it was. Lo and behold! It was him, my husband, the very man that had gotten me here. Why was he here? No, he's here to take me. How did he find me? s**t, how can I forget he's the head of the Romano empire? “You've been a really bad wife, Allie, and you know what that means,” he said, grabbing me by the arm.“No, let go of me!” I said, trying to force my arm out of his grip. I couldn't; he was stronger than me. “Time to teach you a lesson you will never forget. You ran and let me look like a fool in front of my investors.” How could he say that? He got me here with those stupid videos of his, and he has the effrontery to tell me s**t. Yeah, f**k you. All you care about is your company and your image, never about me. So I'm to be blamed now for your mistake? “I'm not going with you; just leave me alone. You got me here.” “Allie, stop being a child and let's go. We've talked about this several times. It's the media; they'll forget about it in a week or two.” My tiny heart broke. Yeah, no s**t, easy for him to say, but what about me, my dignity, and my reputation? No, not today; I'm taking my stand. “I'm not going with you, and that's final.” I said firmly, “Allie!!” He slammed his hand on the table, and his voice became deeper. “You're getting on my nerves.” Yeah, it only means one thing: he's getting angry, and yeah, I wonder why he hasn't torn up the place yet. I stood up and moved back a little. “I'm not going with you. Let me be,” I said firmly. We've already gotten the club's attention by now. Yeah, there go the whispers and stares. Uhh, my stomach twisted out of hate and despise. Give me a break. “Allie I'm not going to say it again.” “I'm not going,” I said, even though I didn't know where I was going or even had the courage to say so. All I know is this is my chance. “Hey, man, let the lady be. If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't want to go. Just go and quit being a b***h about it,” a voice said. Oh s**t, no, we all looked over to where the voice came from; a guy dressed in jeans and holding a party light said that. He said that. Oh no, how dare he! People started whispering the only time I thought it mattered to me. Did he not know who he was? How dare he say that? I looked over to my husband. His eyes were already twitching. It only means one thing: he's dead meat. And yeah, my husband was getting really angry. He went over and punched him, and blood started coming from his nose. He was hitting him. I had to rush over. “Honey…let him go.” I said sadly, “He was mistaken. Let him be. I'm…ready to go home now.” I said, pulling his arm to get off this guy, but I was no match for his strength. “I'm ready to go home now,” I shouted with tears rolling down my eyes. He stood up and came to me with blood filling his arm. He asked his men to take the guy I felt so sorry for; the only time someone stood up for me, he got beaten to a pulp. “You caused this, baby,” he said as he rubbed his thumb on my cheek. I am never going to leave this nightmare. “Can we please go home now?” I said I hated the stares and whispers that were going on again. “Yes, baby,” he said, carrying me like the baby I was. We were about to leave when a voice called out. “Stop…” Suddenly I was brought out of my daydream by the bar attendant serving me my tenth shot. I must have taken too much; that's why my mind played a whole trick about my husband on me. “Are you okay, ma'am?” the bar attendant asked. “Yeah, sure I am… Why do you ask?” “Well, you've taken lots more shots than a woman of your kind is supposed to, and you're tearing up,” he said gently. That's when I noticed the tears on my face. Oh, f**k, they're from the dream. That fucker really messed me up in real life and in my f*****g dream. Nothing is ever mine around him. I cleaned it up. “I'm fine, and it's nothing, thank you.” I replied gently. “Alright, take care of yourself then, ma'am. If you need anything let me know.” “Hmm, thanks.” I really didn't see how young he was; he must be working part-time because a guy his age should be in college, or maybe my eyes were deceiving me but isn't it better to be working my ass off than in this nightmare I'm in? I gulped down my shot and stood to go to the dance floor; by now I was already drunk. What if he came? I hesitated. I wish I could stand up to him like that, but you and I know it's going to backfire. Just his thoughts send shivers down my spine. I went ahead anyways; if he came, at least I enjoyed a bit of my life before getting my ass whooped. I slowly went to the dance floor, letting the drunkenness lead me. I danced and let the alcohol take control, and I've never felt happier. I danced as people gathered around me and started hailing me. Suddenly a guy came over and whispered in my ear, and he took me. I was drunk, and I followed suit. We entered a private lounge. I heard the sexiest voice I've ever heard in my life. “Hey, beautiful.” I felt tingles all over my body and smiled sheepishly. The smell was different from that of the main club. I could still feel the bass of the music. I sat down, and he offered me another round of shots, which I took happily. I didn't know what happened, but I kissed him, and I've never felt this feeling of ecstasy. It was amazing. In that moment nothing matters, not even my husband, nothing, just this, me and this stranger. I couldn't trade this moment for anything. Everything went blank.