Instead of taking what Roy said seriously, she put her focus on Patrick. The man didn’t cease to amaze her. Every week he would send her flowers. She didn’t know how he knew she love red roses and sunflowers. Patrick also surprised her with gifts. He liked buying her jewellery; ear rings, bracelets, necklace and watches. He visited her every weekend and they’d spend the day cuddling in her flat, talking about the future. She had never experienced this in her past relationships.

“You should stop buying me jewellery,”

“I will do anything for my love,” he pulled her in his arms.

Cherry saw how romantic he was. He opened doors for her and treated her with respect. She felt she didn’t want to lose her man. Cherry agreed to stay with Patrick. She felt he was no longer a stranger but viewed herself as his soulmate.

Roy tried to call her but Cherry thought he wanted to disturb her. She ended up blocking him. He tried to visit but she wouldn’t open the door for him. Roy felt bad but wanted their friendship to carry on.

After a month into their relationship she finally moved in with Patrick.

He treated Cherry as a queen at his place. Everything went well until one day she found a gun in the drawer of his bedside table. What if he is engaged in dangerous gangs?

“Baby, why do you need a gun?” she asked him later that evening.

“For my safety,” he replied.

“OK,” she said and left it at that. Joburg was a dangerous place and she knew that Patrick was a wealthy man. She never asked again.

At night she slept on Patrick’s broad chest and didn’t notice the beeping of her phone.

She was woken by a hard slap on the cheeks. She woke up, bolting from the hot clap.

“Why are you beating me?” she shouted.

“You are cheating on me,” he said furiously.

“What?” she sat up, holding her painful cheek.

Patrick threw the phone on her. It was unlocked and she looked at her messages and there was nothing wrong with them.

“Who am I cheating with?” she spoke loudly.

“Whose nudes are those?” he paced up and down in the room.

She looked in her gallery and there they were, pictures of Trevor and Mike. How had he managed to open her phone? How did he know her screen-lock pattern?

“I am sorry, these are old pictures,” she cried.

Without wasting time, he started to use his fists on her. She cried, begging for him to stop but he dragged her on the floor and started to kick her. He closed her mouth, threatening to kick her out if she didn’t stop making noise. She made silent cries as kicks landed on her stomach. He didn’t hit her on the face, he kept kicking her body.

Patrick left the apartment, leaving her on the floor.

Her body pained as she walked to the bathroom. She wanted to leave and started packing her clothes. Who could help her in the midst of darkness? She called Roy but it kept going to voicemail. She was so sore and tired. She took some pain killers and sleep overtook her on the couch.

Patrick arrived home and found Cherry on the couch. He tried to lift her up so she could sleep in the bedroom. She pushed him and ran in the other direction.

“Baby, I am sorry. It’s just that I thought you cheated on me,” he said calmly.

Cherry stood still with tears. She couldn’t believe the man she thought loved her would beat her up. Patrick walked closer and touched her arms.

“I love you. It will never happen again. I promise,” he pleaded and embraced her.

***

Tell us: What would you do if you were Cherry?