Taking the birth control pills from the trash, he extracted the remaining twelve and rushed over to her.

Panicking, she tried to run. He chased her all over the room, flinging her arms and screaming but he was a beast.

Jumping in the bed, she tried to crawl to the opposite side but he grabbed her feet and pulled her to him He grabbed her sweaty neck, forced her mouth open and pushed the pills down her throat.

She spat a few of them in his face. He punched her in the jaw and she kicked him in the balls.

Falling to the floor, he moaned piteously, quickly getting up to his feet.

She got in his face and started punching at him.

He slapped her so hard she fell to her knees. “I HATE YOU!”

His words shook the room.

She stood up with blood on her lip, breathing hard, hair disheveled.

She closed her eyes and covered her face, falling back on her knees in shock.

He hated her. This bothered her more than she thought it would.

He cried to himself, silently. He wouldn’t dare sob. He reached out to her, his hands shaking, attempting to hold her, become one with her but he withdrew his hand and turned his back on her.

He didn’t love or trust her anymore. He didn’t care if she lived or died. He was tired of being her fool.

His cell phone rang. Answering, he said, “Hello.”

“How are you, sir?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Who is this?”

“I’m calling you about a position that isavailable at the Motel 6.”

He wasn’t interested. “Is this a survey?”

“No, sir. Your name was given to me by a George Harper. Said he went to school with you. We are looking for a manager.”

“I like the job I have now.”

“Would you like to reconsider?”

“No, thank you.”

“Well we want you.”

“So does everyone else.”

“Stating pay is $35,000.”

He sat on the edge of the bed.

“When do I come in?” And who the hell is George Harper?

“Now, can you make it in, say, fifteen
minutes?”

“I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

“I’ll call you. And good luck.”

The line disconnected.

Tina was in a myriad of thoughts. First her husband called out another woman’s name, in the bed they shared during the course of such a rocky marriage, and then he showed his ass, talking down to her, jumping on her.

Where did he get off?

She didn’t believe in calling the police so that was out. Her jaw hurt, she made herself regurgitate the pills.

That’s what she got for playing with his emotions. She knew she was wrong for what she did.

Thomas, deep down, was a good guy. And she was turning him into a bitter fool.

She didn’t have to put up with his shit. If she wanted to she could have him thrown out of the house, but her civilly caring side didn’t let her.

She had to admit that she didn’t love him. She only married him because the dick was good and the money exceeded $29,000 a year.

He pampered her, bought her anything she wanted, let her do what she wanted and she had become so accustomed to the “finer things in life,” diamond rings and jewelry, getting credit cards in his name, that she lost touch with what really mattered in a marriage: the Union.

She dated other men behind his back...