“How about chicken?” I held up a container. “There are potatoes and broccoli in here too. That all goes together.” I tried to smile even though I was measuring every word that left my lips. One wrong one, and I’d end up on the floor, cleaning this food up.
“Fine,” he growled.
I carefully pulled down two plates, dished the food out, and placed one in the microwave. After setting the timer, I placed the containers back in the fridge. When the microwave beeped, I tested the food before carrying it over to Warren. After placing it in front of him, I heated up my own plate. “How’s that?” I waited with bated breath for him to scream at me about something.
“Good. Glad to see that bump on the head didn’t cause you to forget your place.” He lifted his chin as he chuckled to himself. A small part of me broke that night. I’d always hoped that somewhere inside of him would be a decent man. I thought that if he hurt me bad enough, he might see the error of his ways, but this just proved that he didn’t. He didn’t care if he hurt me. Hell, I don’t think he cared if he killed me.
We sat at the table in silence that night, quietly eating our dinner. When we finished, Warren stood and walked away, leaving the mess for me. I painstakingly cleaned the dishes, wiped down the counters, and then hobbled over to where we kept the medicine. After taking the pain pills I’d been sent home with today, I made my way to the bedroom.
When I reached our door, the lights were off. Warren was already asleep on his side of the bed. I fumbled through the dark, knowing that if I turned on the lights, I’d have hell to pay. When I caught my toe on the bed, I mashed my lips together to keep from crying out in pain. Night time preparations took twice as long as they should have, but when my body hit the soft mattress, I almost sighed. Being back home was hard, but at least I could sleep in my own bed. If I am being honest though, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.
The idea of leaving has been growing stronger ever since Dr. McGee mentioned it. I need to leave again, only I need to find someone who remembers where I went. I can’t have him finding me again, and I can’t remember how I got there.
Chapter 3
Brooke
It’s been a month since I came home. Not much has changed, but Warren hasn’t physically hurt me. Ever since I came home, he’s kept me on my toes though. I think he’s playing some kind of psychological game now. I spend most of my days watching for him. He leaves in the morning, and I relax. Normally he comes home around six in the evening. I don’t even need to look at the clock anymore. My body has trained itself to be on high alert. Right around five thirty, I can feel all the muscles tightening. Sometimes I even feel sick.
I’m supposed to see Dr. McGee this afternoon for my seven-month checkup. After today, I’ll start going twice a month. I’m both excited and scared to have this baby. I’m worried what Warren might do once the baby’s here, but I’m dying to meet her. Every time I feel her kick, I think about Ava. I wonder what Warren did to her; if she’s ok or remembers me? No one seems to have an answer for me, but I know she was real. She had to be real.
Warren told me he was too busy to take me to the doctor today, so I had to get a cab. It was a short ride, and beautiful outside. Fall was in the air, and the crisp leaves crunched under my feet as I walked. The streets were lined with golds, oranges, and reds, and the sky was a bright blue. I felt like I was in the middle of a storybook as the breeze blew against my face. ooooooooo
When I reached Dr. McGee’s building, I paused. She said this was the first pregnancy she’s helped me with, but I remembered coming here with Ava. Everything was the same. The building looked the same, even the flowers out front were the same. I rubbed my eyes as I tried to remember anything that would make me feel like I wasn’t going crazy, but the harder I tried, the worse I felt.
The elevator ride was slow and when the doors dinged open, I was met with the familiar smell of the office. I signed in, and took a seat. The TV in the corner was turned down low but I could still hear the weather report predicting an early frost. I wasn’t sitting long, before I was ushered back to a room. The nurse jotted a few things in my file before leaving me there on the paper covered table.
My eyes scanned the room, looking for clues to point out to Dr. McGee. She had to remember the last time. I only saw her a few times, but she was so persistent about me leaving. She had to remember. The harder I looked, the more my head throbbed, warning me to stop.
“Brooke.” Dr. McGee smiled as she entered the room. “How are you today?”
“Ok, I guess.” I shrugged. I honestly didn’t know how I felt. My head still hurt on a regular basis, my ribs did too if I bumped them just right. No one believed me when I talked to them about leaving. “Confused, mainly.”
“Confused how?” Dr. McGee sat down and patted my knee.
“You’re going
