Elizabeth

I had a dog and I had forgotten all about her. I had left her at my house in the morning, and now it is 4 pm.

Quickly, I rushed out of the building and then flagged down a cab.

Half an hour later, I arrived at my house and guess what? My Ex boyfriend was sitting on the stairway with his hands tugging his hair.

This was why I didn't want to come home, dealing with him was exhilarating.

He raised his head when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked haggard and drunk.

"Lizzy! My love,"He staggered towards me, and I didn't notice the rope in his hand.

Gosh!

He stank!

I had to cover my nose with the back of my hand."Get out of here! You're polluting the air !"

He attempted to grab me, but I dodged just in time. "That video happened a year ago, why did you lie ?"

" I would rather not look like the villain, besides, I was telling the truth." I shrugged, at least he keeps track of social media. I just ruined his social life with that video and I don't regret it.

I rushed to the door and tried opening it before that psycho would stagger near me, but the door wouldn't budge. Just when it finally opened, he grabbed my hand." You will say yes...you will marry me! I have to take over the company,Liz. You have to marry me."

I understood he was desperate because he still hadn't found a wife at his age and he won't be able to produce an heir if he doesn't find a wife.

And his father wants a grandchild before he completely hands over his business to his son. He's an only child,to continue his lineage,he has to produce a child and I was supposed to be the baby making machine.

I can't ruin my life like that. I know Felix,the moment I have his child, he'll dump me and take the baby.

I can't let that happen.

His grip on my hand tightened such that I couldn't escape, he moved closer to me and attempted to kiss me, but I slapped him hard across the face.

The stench coming from him was enough to make any living creature die, even his hands were clammy.

" If you don't get out of here right now, I'll call the cops." I threatened,my hands trembled as cold sweat broke out on my face.

I was feeling a mixture of fear and anger. The streets were empty, and I didn't think any person or car would pass by anytime soon.

I thought about screaming to get some attention.

" Let me go," I said this time more calmly.

He grabbed my other hand and pushed me against the door. "I'm going to propose again and make a video then you'll upload it on your page ... I won't let you turn me into a laughingstock." He growled in my ear.

Pain ripped through my face as he slammed my face on the door. I didn't want him to feel my fear or he would take advantage of it so I struggled to keep my composure.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to upload that video of you sleeping with your uncle's wife on the net." My voice cracked as I struggled to free myself.

He tightened his grip; I was beginning to feel pain in my arms and on my face pressed against the not-so-smooth door.

Panic set in as his hands rummaged through my body.

God help me, he would get arrested for this.

He licked my ears from behind. " Oh...no, not with that filthy tongue." A quiet sob escaped my lips.

I'm strong ,I shouldn't cry.

I'm not weak so why won't my body stop trembling?

Why won't my heart stop racing?

Felix was one of those bad boys in college, funny how we still kept in touch after so many years, but that was all because my parents wanted me to marry him.

Only I know the kind of man he is and only I can bring him down but I don't have the power to do so at least not currently.

He had raped a girl once but gotten away with it because his dad had connections with the police, he also did drugs and all sorts of evil things you could think of. I took it upon myself to make him pay for hurting Avery.

"If you don't do as I say then I'll strip you, tie you to the bed and have fun playing with this nice ass." His hands went to my backside. Then he wrapped the rope around my neck, choking me.

I gagged,the tears finally flowing freely.

" You'll marry me, Elizabeth. You have no choice." His grip tightened.

I couldn't breathe as tears trickled down my eyes.

I coughed, fighting for breath.

"Let me go…You'll end up in jail if you don't let me go, me go." I cried, my voice shaking.

I bucked and trashed, trying to free myself as I let out screams.

How come no one could hear me? We were right outside for Christ sake. I felt my lungs collapsing as he pressed my face to the door, and for a moment, I thought this was the end for me.

"We'll see about that."He started tracing his hands around my body, he was about to squeeze my boobs when I heard a loud crashing sound. The strong metallic smell of blood filled my nostrils.

At first, I thought it was my blood until Felix slowly let go of me and landed flat on the floor unconscious.

The first thing I did was gasp for breath as I coughed out spit and snort. This was one of the reasons I broke up with him, he wouldn't think twice about hurting me if I got him angry.

He was violent and abusive.

Breathing heavily with both eyes red from crying, I turned around and saw the last person that had broken me emotionally.

"Are you okay?"He asked, reaching for me.

I blinked the tears away rapidly, trying to find composure as I nodded.

“ Thank you.” I whispered as I stepped away from him as soon as I started hearing the police siren.

His voice was cool. " You're welcome, I just thought I'd check up on you today."

My muscles tensed as he spoke. " Thanks for calling the cops”

" I didn't call the cops, that old lady did."He said, pointing at a frowning white-haired lady standing across the flower pot that separated our houses. She hissed at me, adjusted her glasses and turned away.

As usual, she gave me cold shoulders, but that's Mrs. Hamilton of all people; I never knew she was capable of such good things. I should thank her later.

The cops pulled over and took Felix into their car. One of them came up to Dwain asking their usual interrogative questions.

When they finally left with Felix,I took a five minute breather and then I cleaned up the mess at my front door, trying my very best to ignore his presence.

His presence still made me quiver till now,but I have to be stern. I'm not that girl before. I'm not that same Elizabeth that trembled at his feet.

"Elizabeth, can we talk ?" He said in a low voice.

I sighed. " Thank you for your help ,Dwain but I'm in no mood to talk.Not now,not ever.Now if you'll excuse me, I need to feed my dog."

My hands were shaking and I did my best to hide it. This man had broken me beyond repair. He made me his whore,he destroyed my self dignity ,he used me ,then took away my sanity and dumped me.

I'm just a girl trying to fix her life back but he still won't let me go.

"Wait ...just ..." I didn't let him finish and slammed the door. That wasn't a nice way to treat someone who just saved my ass, but I couldn't help it, he deserved it.

I ran into my bedroom searching for pixy and there she was on my bed, lying weakly with her eyes closed.

I got pixy after my therapist said I needed emotional support and it turns out she was right.

" Oh dear ... Pixy, I'm so sorry." I had forgotten to fill her plate before I left, the only thing she had since morning was a few pieces of potato chips.

I had starved my beloved dog and roommate for hours all because of Felix.

Speaking of which, surely he would spend some time in prison if his dad didn't get him out.

I went to the kitchen to make some cookies. I was going to take it to Mrs. Hamilton as a token of my gratitude.

When it was ready, I wrapped them in a nice plastic bag and hopped off to her house.

I rang the doorbell twice, this was the first time I was going to speak with Mrs. Hamilton directly. Our encounters had been mostly indirect and fierce eye battles but now it was face to face.

I'm only going to her place to avoid Dwain,he was still outside my door and I knew what he could do to me if I were alone in my house.

All those actions he pulled off earlier were just Facades.

I swallowed, plastered a massive smile on my face as I heard soft footsteps and soon the door flew open.

My hands were still trembling because I could still feel his eyes on me.

He knows where I live now,I'm not safe anymore.

Elizabeth

Her house was nice and a bit too colourful for an old lady; the bright green rug, coupled with the peach painting on the wall, gave the living room a characteristic childish look.

There were so many paintings on the wall which I think her granddaughter made. I had seen the young girl and her mum a few times when she came to visit, and she brought new paintings each time she came.

I stepped in as she led me to the sofa. I placed the little gift I came with on the side table while pixie rolled up on the rug close to my feet.

Plastering a fake smile on my face, I reached for the box of cookies and handed it to her. " I made this as an appreciation for helping me earlier." She took it, opened it and sniffed it.

She snapped it closed and adjusted her glasses."Then you should join us, your friend and Alma are making pancakes.”

Alma was her house help, and why did I suddenly have an idea that she was referring to Dwain? Besides, I knew he hadn't left because his car was parked outside Mrs. Hamilton's while he watched me with those predator looks.

I rolled my eyes."There's no need, I won't be staying long anyway."I made a motion to leave.

As long as Dwain was here then it's best I left. He can be a saint in the open but he's a devil behind that face of his.

She gestures for me to sit back down."Oh ..no...you should stay and at least try the cookies you made, just in case you put something in it."

I was taken aback. " Did you think I'd poison you?"

"Oh...yes, you broke my flower pot once !"

" That was an accident!"

" You threw a stone at my cat!"

" That was because it purred at me!

"That was a kind gesture!"

" Well, I ......"

Our bickering was interrupted by someone clearing his throat. I huffed and sat back down.

Dwain placed a plate filled with hot pancakes on the table and sat next to me.

I tensed immediately,what the fuck was he doing here?

"So...what were you guys arguing about ?" Alma handed a bottle of water to him, slightly bowed and quietly left.

I nonchalantly picked a cookie from the box.

" It's none of your business, don't you have work?"

"Of course I do, I'm not jobless. I just wanted to check on you."

I scoffed."Of course, you're not jobless like me, isn't that what you wanted to say!"

He ignored me, helped himself to some pancakes and also gave some to Mrs. Hamilton. She smiled at him and rained blessings on him.

Mrs. Hamilton giggled."Back in the day, my mom owned a bakery. She used to make the best breads, cakes, muffins, you name it! Our small bakery was always filled with people."

" What about now?"Dwain piped in.

Mrs. Hamilton shook her head in sadness. " We sold it, my mom got a better job, but she didn't stop baking. She only baked for the family. "

I rolled my eyes, it was time I took my leave. I noticed my cookies were pushed aside on the table, and I was the only one eating them. I had a feeling that it was going to end up in the trash can.

" What about you, Miss Elizabeth? Do you cook ?" She asked.

Dwain gave me a look, I hated this question. Of course, I knew how to cook, but the problem was that the food only tasted delicious to me. Other people who tasted my cooking left bad remarks. I couldn't get why they were unable to taste what I was tasting.

" Of course, as you can see, I made these cookies," I said with a smile on my face.

She threw a glance at the box. " I didn't perceive any fragrance."

Ok ...this was way out of line. I was getting tired of always receiving criticism for my cooking.

" You didn't taste them !"

"I don't need to ..., biscuits and sweets should have a sweet fragrance but yours doesn't."

Angrily I stood up and grabbed my cookies. " You know what !.... You can shove these pancakes up your ass."I spat and stomped out of her house.

I did not like the way my voice sounded, it sounded weak.

"Elizabeth...that's rude.Apologize!" Dwain yelled after me.

Of course, he would take her side; they shared the same view, after all. Not bothering to look back, I walked quickly to my house, hoping that he wasn't following me, but unfortunately, he was right behind me. I wasn't quick enough to shut the doors.

" Elizabeth, you should apologize!"He scolded, stepping in uninvited.

I laughed dryly . " Sorry but no ...can't do it !"

"This is your problem!” He snapped.And probably why you'll always have issues with everybody."

"So I'm the one at fault here? ...even after she insulted me."I blurted out.

He raised a finger at me. " The moment you'll learn to accept your faults ...is the moment you'll stop having issues with everybody! ...this is precisely why we drifted apart. "

I stared at him blankly, my eyes stinging. He was blaming me again for our break-up.

I forced a smile. " No...I clearly remember why we broke up. It wasn't because I blamed others, you made that clear."

I saw his expression soften, he must have realized the impact of his words. But,I know him well enough to know when he was pretending.

" You said I was a fat, naive and dependent girl who doesn't know how to take care of her body."I paused and used the back of my hand to wipe the tear that escaped my eyelids.

He reached forward, but I stepped back. " Elizabeth I...."

I raised a finger.”Don’t say a word.”

" I understand that you don't want someone who doesn't have a job and still depends on her parents. You said that I might poison you with my bad cooking, and you were ashamed of how I looked".

This time, I was already crying. My eyes were blurry because of too many tears in them.

Whatever anger he had wanted to lash at me surprisingly disappeared. " Elizabeth, please...I already apologized several times. I only wanted you to lose some weight, but you took it the wrong way."

I scoffed, he was blaming me again. " You said you were ashamed of me!"

The silence that followed proved how heartless he was.

" How could you say that to someone you claim to love? And then you…" My voice broke.

I don't want to remember that part of our relationship.

He opened his mouth but no words came out.

“ If you can't love me the way I am without seeing me as a tool.” I breathed,my chest hurting.” Then don't love me at all. Let this be the last time we see each other.”

He stayed silent....of course, he didn't have anything to say. " Please leave my house."

" This isn't the end, Elizabeth.... I'll give you some space."

And he left.

I stood still till the door shut and then walked to my room

I stood in front of the mirror. Truth be told, I was fat...from my backside, my tummy, and my boobs. Even my cheeks were chubby.

I used to hate my body and I think I still do.

I still had a good figure, so I didn't understand why Dwain saw a nasty, fat girl in me. Why he treated me like trash and some toy he could use because I couldn't meet his standard.

Why did he make me believe I was worthless? Why did he take every piece of myself from me?

I just wanted to be loved but he broke me.

Tears rolled down my face as I raised my sweatshirt to take a look at my tummy. I had a lot of belly fat, and those nasty freckles on my cheeks. I even have stretch marks.

I hated the way I looked, and I was going to change that.

How can you date someone for two years and in those two years, he never said you looked pretty?

I have to do something about my body or I won't get my revenge on him.

********

Smiling brightly under the fading moonlight, I adjusted my sweatshirt. I woke up feeling giddy and extra motivated this morning. So here I was about to go jogging and burn some calories.

I contemplated waiting a little longer until the sun came up fully, but then I would end up being all sweaty.

And my nosy neighbours wouldn't stop talking about how their fat neighbor finally decided to lose some weight after she fought with her ex-boyfriend.

Shaking my head to clear my head of any depressing thoughts, I plugged in my air pods and hit the road.

I didn't bother checking the road because who the hell would be awake at this godforsaken hour?

That was a big mistake on my part because I not only didn't see the car coming ahead of me but also didn't hear a sound because of the loud music playing on my air pods.

The next minute, I was hit and thrown out of the road.

I landed on the pavement, knocking my ankle on the concrete.

The impact wasn't that much, but I could feel a throbbing pain from my butt and ankle.

Cursing, I squeezed my ankle, trying to relieve the pain. Whoever it was that was driving the freaking car came and stood over me. From the silhouette, I could tell it was a man.

" Are you fucking blind," I screamed at him, my eyes beginning to water.

He just stood there dressed in a cop uniform staring down at me like I was a lost cat, not even bothering to help me up.

The first ray of the sun escaped the clouds, shining down and reflecting on the earth. The first features of his face I took note of were those ocean eyes and blonde hair. My eyes flew to the imprinted name on his uniform - Eren Scott.

If I weren't in pain right now, I would take my time to appreciate God's creation. He was goddamn beautiful!

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbow so where the hell did his tattoos go ?