Bound by fate

Matilda's POV The man's words caught me off guard. "You have a lovely smile," he said, his tone polite and genuine. I hesitated, not knowing how to react. Finally, I mumbled, "Thank you," and mustered a tiny smile so as not to seem impolite and walked away to go and sit down. The exchange was nothing—harmless, really—but my stomach clenched as I glanced toward the café's glass door. Derek stood outside, his phone pressed to his ear. His eyes flicked toward me for the briefest moment, then away. Relief swept over me. He hadn't seen the interaction. Or so I thought. Derek walked in not two minutes later, his smile tight and brittle. "Ready to go?" he asked, his voice low and calm. Too calm. Alarm bells went off in my head. I nodded, my palms suddenly damp as I stood up. He places his hands on my waist and steers me towards the car. The air surrounding us crackled with unspoken tension, but the walk to the car was quiet. His rage was evident in every deliberate step and look directed at me. I was having trouble breathing by the time we got to the car. Derek's fists struck the steering wheel before the door closed once we settled inside the car. I flinched, my body instinctively curling away from him. "Who was he?" The words hit like a punch. I blinked, confused. "Who?" "Don't play dumb with me, my love." His voice dropped to a whisper, the kind that made my skin crawl. "The man. The one who talked to you." I froze, my heart pounding. "I don't even know him. He was just being polite and paid me a compliment," I stammered. "I didn't even—" "Shut up!" His shout made me jump, and I shrank back against the door. His eyes bore into me, cold and furious. "I saw the way you smiled at him," he sneered, leaning closer, his face inches from mine. "You couldn't wait for me to step outside before throwing yourself at someone else, could you?" Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back. Crying wouldn't help. Crying never helped. "I didn't do anything," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "I didn't encourage him, I just thanked him for the compliment." He laughed, the sound bitter and cruel. "You think I'm stupid? You think I don't see how you try to make men look at you?" His hand sprang out and clamped down like a vice on the back of my neck. Panic clawed at my chest, making my breath catch. I'd never been this scared. He always hit objects, yelled, and cursed at me but had never put his hands on me. "You belong to me," he hissed, his voice low and venomous. "Do you hear me, Matilda? You're *mine*. No one else gets to look at you, touch you, or even *speak* to you. And don't even think about leaving me. I'll hunt you down and find you and when I do, you'll pay" He finishes off, and the sinister smile that follows sends a chill down my spine. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. My heart shattered in my chest as I stared at him. It hurt to breathe after hearing the same man who whispered sweet nothings to me and told me how much he loves me utter such frightening words. He released me with a shove, leaning back in his seat like nothing had happened. "Now, let's go pick Lily up," he said casually, starting the car. "Mummy, Uncle Derek!", Lily squeals when she sees us and runs straight into his outstretched arms. "How's my favorite girl?", he asks while she's in his arms. "I'm fine Uncle", she says and begins to tell him about what happened in school. "No hug for Mummy?", I ask and he puts her down and she runs into my arms too. "Mummy, can we please go and get ice cream? Pretty please?", she asks while pouting. I laugh at her facial expression. "Your wish is my command, milady", he laughs and walks back to the car with her in between the both of us, looking like one big happy family. We go to her favorite ice cream shop in town and I allow her to have more than her usual one scoop. He also gets me two scoops of my favorite flavor, chocolate cream with cookies. It has always been one of his manners of apologizing. He knows my weakness. I replayed the interaction in my head the entire ride and made up my mind to leave with Lily having a good memory of him and not the monster version that I get to experience more than usual. That night, after Derek left our house, I sat on the edge of Lily's bed, watching her chest rise and fall as she slept. She looked so peaceful, so innocent. I couldn't let him destroy that. I wouldn't. I worked quietly, my hands trembling as I packed a small bag for her. Clothes, her favorite stuffed bunny, and a few snacks for the road. When I was done, I went to my room and packed a few essentials for myself, especially my artwork and unfinished pieces. I moved to the closet, prying up the loose floorboard where I'd hidden every spare dollar I could scrounge over the years since I started as a freelance artist. The major deposits were in the bank and I'll cash it out when we get to our destination. I shoved the envelope inside my purse, feeling sick to my stomach. I didn't have a plan, not really. Just an idea. Los Angeles. It was far enough. Big enough to disappear and have better opportunities. By dawn, we were gone. As the bus pulled out of the station, I clutched Lily to my chest, my tears soaking into her hair. "Mummy, you're suffocating me", she mumbles, still sleepy. "I'm sorry princess, I'm so sorry", I say my voice laced with tears. I release her from the tight grip and cuddle her more gently. Although I had no idea of what the future held for us; I was convinced of one thing; We would never go back.