'Finally this long day is over.' I pull into my driveway after a long, tiring day of work and turn the car off.
I look at myself in the visor mirror fixing hair and lipstick before getting out of the car.
I walk to my front door and unlock it, excited to see my boyfriend, James.
He's been sending me texts all day about the dirty things he wants to do to me Tonight , and after this long day I've been looking forward to it.
I can't stop thinking about how I want his hands all over every inch of my body. I want to tug his beautiful brown locks while he makes me shiver with pleasure.
I unlock the door and walk inside.
"Baby! You're home !" James my boyfriend, gets off the couch and stumbles towards me. When he gets close enough, I can smell the alcohol on him.
'He's drunk! again!'
James tries to lean in and kiss me. This isn't what I had been expecting.
James goes in for the kiss, his eyes are bloodshot and hungry. I place my hands on his chest and push him away.
I'm not in the mood anymore.
"OH, come on, baby." He tries to kiss me again. He's so drunk, he can't even tell that I'm annoyed with him.
"James! Stop."
"Jeez, what's your problem?"
I ignore his question and walk around him, further into my home.
I notice it's a complete mess in here. There's James's food wrappers, plastic cups, beer cans and dirty clothes littered around.
"You couldn't clean up a little while I was at work today?"
"I was going to, but I...forgot. "
'Jeez, he just forgot?'
"Look at this place, there's so much mess everywhere. "
"I just don't let it bother me." James tries to approach me again, but I move around him and start walking around the room picking up some of his trash.
'I hope he feels bad seeing me pick up after him.'
"Clearly"
"I was too busy thinking about having you in my arms."
"And that's supposed to make it okay?" I give up cleaning start heading down the hallway towards the bedroom. James follows Me , still stumbling and slurring his words.
"I'll do it later."
I scoff as I know James always promises to do things but never completes them.
"Come on, Claire, don't be like this." I stay silent throughout the walk to my room as James follows me. At this point, I just need to be away from him.
'Maybe I'll just take a nice hot bubble bath with some wine after all this.'
James stands near the bedroom with his hands folded staring right at me, as if he wants me to hurry up.
"Claire?"
'I hope he's about to apologize to me.'
"Yeah?"
"What's for dinner? I'm starving "
'He's unbelievable '
"James, please.... working all day long and coming home to see this mess is enough, I don't have the energy to cook for you anymore, you didn't do anything all day long."
James sighs and acts as if the allegations I put on him were false.
"You're right. I'm the problem and you're Ms. Perfect!"
I stand there in disbelief as James chooses to play victim and puts all the blame on me.
"I'm sorry. I'd just like to come home after work and relax instead of cooking and picking up after you."
"And I'd like you to come home and not immediately start bitching at me. But I guess we can't always get what we want."
"That's not fair! If I am going to be the only one making a living, I do expect you to help me out with the chores.
"Don't be ridiculous. Making money isn't always everything. "
"Why haven't you tried getting a job yet?. And if you loved me, you would help me not to feel so stressed when I get home
"Your job is not even that hard. Comr talk to me when you're working a better job" He just did not say that!
I raise my hand and slap him across the face, outraged and unable to stop myself.
James recoils and gasps, he stands there and stares at me. He's wearing a stunned expression.
"Do not ever sat that to me again, James. "
James touches hid reddening cheek where i slapped him. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I just couldn't help my reaction.
'I'm not going to apologize. My job is hard enough! he doesn't know what it's like. '
James gives me a disappointed glare, then turns and walk out of the room.
***
I and James sit on the opposite corners of the room. Ready to wind down after this hateful night.
Suddenly, James's phone starts vibrating, I see him pull it out of his pocket. He reads the name on his screen and stands up.
"James!? Where are you going?" Without answering my question James slams the door behind him.
Two hours pass by and there's no sign of James getting back home. I walk to my bathroom and get ready for bed.
'It's not like him to stay out this late.' I plop myself back down in front of the TV, but I'm restless and constantly glancing out the window.
"Nevermind! I could use this time for better things. " I go to my favorite corner in the house: my bookshelf. "Reading always make me feel better."
I scan the spines, trailing the books with my pointer finger. I love to read before bed.
I love being able to escape into a world that is not your own. It's comforting to you.
"Wait, this book..." I see a book I hadn't noticed before. It's ancient-looking, made of leather, and embossed with gold.
Even though I don't quite recognize it, something about the book feels familiar to you.
"Have I seen this somewhere before?"
You're about to pull it off the shelf. You feel some sort of connection to it, and you can't figure out why.