Things went well between Cherry and Patrick, at least for the rest of the week.

He didn’t stop showing her love and being romantic. Patrick prepared breakfast for her as usual and they ate together even at dinner. He would come home early to join her for supper.
And then one day he came late after she had already fallen asleep. She heard him creep in bed silently. She closed eyes to avoiding him getting angry if she asked questions. Maybe she didn’t know how to talk to him, that’s why he took it the wrong way and got angry.

He wasn’t taking his anger on her but he started to party and she felt lonely again. Every weekend Patrick didn’t come home. So she called Roy.

“Can we meet?” she asked, sadly.

“Yes, just tell me where and when,” he answered quickly.

“See you after work,” she said.

“I can pick you up after work. We’ll have dinner then,” he said.

“Good idea,” she said and hung up.

On Friday Cherry thought Patrick wasn’t coming to pick her up. She grabbed her bag and jacket and left. She met Patrick by the entrance. She was puzzled.

‘‘Hi, I thought you weren’t coming back,” she said in a low voice.

“I am here, aren’t I?” he said hugging her.

“I have plans, I want to meet my friend,” she said, looking down.

“You aren’t seeing anyone except me,” he hissed.

“I promised Roy…”

“Who is this Roy? You’re cheating on me?” he shouted and everyone looked at them.

Cherry walked closer to him. She looked at him in the eye.

“I am not cheating, Roy is my friend,” she said in a low voice.

“What’s so special about Roy? You’re coming home with me,” he said opening the door of the car for her.

Cherry jumped in the car and took her phone out to call Roy and tell him she wasn’t coming. Patrick grabbed it as he got inside the car. She hated fighting so she didn’t argue, she wanted to avoid him getting angry or beating her up. He drove the car home and no one said a word.

Cherry only wanted her phone. She prepared dinner. Maybe to ask for her phone sincerely will help. She tried.

“Baby, can I have my phone?” she pleaded.

“What do you need it for?” he took a bite of the barbeque beef stew.

“To check for messages and also see what is happening on social media,” she said looking down at her plate

He hit the table with his fist. Her phone beeped and he checked it. It was Roy again. A storm rose and his temper heated up. He stood up and looked at Cherry who was sipping juice. He strolled towards her and gave her a smack. She fell on the ground with the chair. She started to scream. He held her neck and looked at her angrily.

“Make a sound again,” he threatened her.

He started to punch her all over her face. Even though it pained, she just opened her mouth with no sound coming out. He left her on the floor with blood dripping on her mouth and nose.

He had left her phone on the table. She lay on the ground for an hour. She heard her phone beeping. She held the table so she could stand up. She pulled the phone and checked. It was Roy asking her whereabouts.

I have to see you, something has happened.

Are you OK?

Patrick always beats me, I thought he would stop.

What? I am coming there.

No don’t, we will meet tomorrow.

If he beats you up call me.

OK.

She drank pain killers so she could sleep. Roy mustn’t see how badly beaten she was. And next day she will be feeling better.

***

Tell us: What do you think Roy will do?