andrew's prompt

*Warning: the following story contains scenes of abuse*

Vanessa lowered herself onto the linoleum floor, clutching her sides, tired from vomiting all morning.

Morning sickness.

Vanessa rolled over onto her back, staring at the fluorescent bathroom light on the ceiling. She shut her eyes, trying to shut out her reality but all she can see were flashes from the night before. It was the first time he laid his hands on her, but she should have left at the first red flag. Michael punched holes in the walls before. Screamed at her as he drunkenly threw dishes on the floor and screamed at her some more for not cleaning up his mess. No one was perfect, she tried to rationalize. Every relationship has its flaw, she thought, but the real flaw was excusing his behavior.

He never hit her until last night, after his birthday party at the club. He was jealous that someone bought her a drink at the bar. She was jealous that he was taking body shots off the dancers there, but he slapped her before she could say anything.

"You're such a whore. Anyone should look at you and know that you're mine," Michael said in between slaps. "You were probably fuckin flirting with him behind my back."

"No, babe, I swear I didn't do anything!" Vanessa shrieked and brought her hands up to her face to guard herself, but Michael continued to curse her and beat her.

"Maybe guys wouldn't like you if they saw how fucking ugly you are," Michael grabbed Vanessa by her hair and smothered her face into the pillow. "Yeah, they don't know what you look like without your fucking cake face"


Shaking herself from the flashback, Vanessa shot up, gasping for air. She got up and looked at her swollen face in the bathroom mirror, observing her bruises from her eyes to her neck. She barely recognized herself.

"I have to get out of here."

She didn't have a plan, nowhere to stay, but she figured the first place she should go to was a Planned Parenthood. She needed to sever all ties at all costs. She couldn't have been more than four weeks along.

Vanessa opened the bedroom door and listened for any signs of Michael being home. Usually, Michael would be at work by now, perfect timing for her escape. However, she could hear him moving around in the kitchen. In the air, she could smell bacon and eggs being cooked. She can't wait any longer. She'll have to try and leave anyway, but she'll have to be stealthy about it. Vanessa quietly packed her bags with haste, cautiously listening for Michael to return to the room. When she finished packing, she crept down the hall to the front door. As she opened the door, she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going?" Michael turned her around, looking at her bags.

Vanessa tries to make a break for it, screaming for help as she ran across the lawn.

But Michael was faster and stronger than her.

He wraps one arm around her neck and puts his other hand over her mouth as he drags her back into the house.

"I know you're pregnant, babe," He sneered as he threw her onto the living room floor, shutting the front door behind him. "That's why you're getting fatter. How can you try to break apart our little family by leaving?"

His face changes from a sneer to a smile, holding his hand out to help her stand. "I made you breakfast. You should eat since you're carrying our little angel."

Vanessa quietly follows him into the kitchen and she eats her breakfast silence as Michael watches her take each bite.

"I'll wash the dishes, babe," Vanessa says softly. "I'm sorry for upsetting you. I was being so stupid."

Michael smiles and holds her hand, stroking his thumb over her knuckles. Vanessa gets up and kisses his forehead. She stacks the dishes and pans on the counter, diligently scrubbing the dish's entire surface with the soapy sponge. As she rinses dish soap off the skillet, she imagines what it would feel like hitting Michael over the head with it.