Shirley was in a daze as she drove back to her home. She could not believe he had said all that to her. Her heart was in so much pain.
Pain
It was the only thing that continued to remind her that what just happened was real… not fiction… or fantasy. It was a nightmare that she just went through. She has never seen this side of him. He had used colorful language in front of her multiple times but at the beginning of their relationship when she had strongly opposed it he had gradually stopped. Apart from when he would swear lightly after losing in a game of poker, he had not used any foul language at all. He respected women, in general, let alone say anything abusive to her.
But he had done that now. What's more! He took pride in it.
She has watched his every move, every expression. He wanted to hurt her by saying all this. He had been happy while he shouted one after another shameless thing about her. He had enjoyed humiliating her. His enjoyment has killed whatever of love she felt for him right then and there. How could a person who is supposed to be in love with you enjoy shaming you?
Now, she was numb. She felt nothing.
All along the way her head had played this scenario on repeat. She just wanted to escape that place, get away from him. She knew that if she had stayed there even for a minute then she would start crying. He may have gone back to sleep but she won't cry in his presence.
He did not deserve her tears.
Her body had been on autopilot. She merely went through motions and did not know how she actually reached back home.
She opened the door and went in. When she saw the decorations, the tears she held back, once again welled up in her eyes. Her eyes took everything in. She has done so much to make their night special. His favorite dishes were still at the table, but now cold, just like her heart.
The candles have melted a long time ago but the fairy lights were still on, giving the whole atmosphere a romantic hue. The warm ambiance of the house ridiculed her. As now, it meant nothing. It was similar to rubbing salt on her raw wounds. She was on her last leg, seeing this, something crashed inside her. It was like all of a sudden the dam was broken and she was swept away by the flood of her emotions. She went down on her knees landing hard on the wooden floor.
She did not feel any pain. Her heart was by far dealing with loads of it so this little hurt was nothing. She cried gut-wrenching sob that could easily pierce anyone's heart. It went for hours. She did not know at what time her tears finally dried out and she stopped. Her heart has taken a huge blow and she did not know how she would deal with it.
Suddenly, a thought popped up in her mind.
Why not just leave?