SECRETS AND SCARS

A QUIET SCREAM

It was two weeks after the children's marriage that Laura had gone to Paris for a show of the spring collection, leaving Benson alone at home. The silence that now filled the house weighed more heavily on him.

With his short vacation to Sydney just about to start, Benson thought this was an opportune time to update his wardrobe. He called Ivory, hoping she would be free to go with him to the men's fashion house.

"Hi, Dad," Ivory responded finally, her voice bright but preoccupied.

"Ivory, can you come with me to the fashion house? I have some new clothes that I need to get for the trip," Benson requested, his voice laced with lonely tones.

Ivory's voice softened with concern. "Of course, I'd love to. When do you want to go?”

"Now would be perfect, he replied, hoping that she could sense his underlying need for some company.

Within an hour, Ivory arrived. Her energy was far from Benson's dampened mood. She had already begun shopping in the fashion house and held up a slick, tailored black suit with flare.

Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she said, "Leo will love this outfit."

Benson looked up from the rack of clothing. "Yeah, I guess so," he murmured.

His smile suddenly dropped, noticing her condition. "Are you alright? You are pale.”

"I'm fine," she said, brushing her hands in order to ward off his concern.

"Dad, stop looking at me like that”, She muttered. “My body is just undergoing changes."

His concern deepened. "Are you sure?”

"I'm fine," she smiled, waving him off. "We need to focus on what you need."

He forced a smile. "Thank you!"

As they finished the shopping, he said to her; “Will you come over to spend the night? It's been a bit lonely since Laura left."

She looked at him with funny eyes. "You married me off… Dad. Don't you think my husband would get lonely too?”

Benson's eyes grayed. "You're choosing a man over your old dad?”

Ivory started laughing. "Dad, I'll come over for the weekend before you leave."

The gaze Benson held on her broke, his eyes slipping to a mark on her cheek, and the concern spiked inside him again. "What's that on your face?”

Ivory tensed, her eyes darting away. "It's nothing. I slipped in the bathroom," she said, her voice tight.

Benson's fingers reached out, tracing the mark gently. "Oh my goodness!"

Ivory drew back, her voice rising in irritation. "Dad! Stop overreacting. I am fine."

Without a word, she walked to her car, she slammed the door behind her. "I'll call you when I get home." she shouted, her strung-tight voice betraying the frustration within.

"I love you, darling," Benson called after her, but the revving of her engine swallowed it as she drove off.

*

*

At home, a thin veneer on her distress was the excitement displayed by Ivory. She held a small, neatly wrapped gift in her hand while trying to enter the house with the hope of bridging the gap that was growing between her and Leo.

"Hi, baby!" she glowed at him, her voice strained with cheer. "How was your day at work?"

Leo, seated at the bar with a glass of wine, didn’t acknowledge her. His gaze remained fixed on the counter, his posture rigid.

Ivory set the present down on the bar and smiled, though it was a little strained. "I got you something special. It's made in Paris by some huge designer."

Leo's expression was icy. He took a slow sip from his wine, avoiding her eyes. She advanced further, her hand touching his arm lightly as she canted into him.

"Look at this," she said softly, in a bid to elicit some response. "I thought it would be perfect for you."

Suddenly, Leo's hand lashed out to strike her face. She was left pretty stunned by the blow that had followed.

She stumbled backward, the gift box tumbling from her grasp as she hit the floor hard.

"I told you not to buy me any gifts!" Leo's tone was abrasive, his anger thinly veiled. He stood up; abruptly, he began to climb up the stairs, his heart pounding at his anger.

Ivory sat still on the floor, her face stinging, while tears streamed down her cheeks. She rocked her body with one arm as the other cradled her bruised face, aching from the heart in the wake of cruelty. Her crying resonated across the room, each sound an echo reminding her of being all alone.

His footsteps returned, heavy and deliberate. He paused at the top of the stairs, his shadow reaching over her."Remember," he said icily, "this is a marriage of convenience, not a love marriage.”

Ivory booms with fury. "A marriage of convenience? You've treated me like a stranger since the second day we got married. Why did you even suggest it if you didn’t care?”

Anger twisted on Leo's face. "To save your father’s crashing shares! I sacrificed myself to marry you, w***e!”

Ivory’s eyes bugged with shock. "You dare call me a w***e?”

"Yes!" Leo roared. "Which man will want a wife whose naked pictures are still trending on the Internet?"

Ivory's anger boiled over and she stood up. She dashed towards him, her open small palm hit with a loud slapping sound on Leo's cheek.

"How dare you!” Enraged, Leo's eyes burned. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face twice. "You think you can hit me and go free?"

Ivory struggled to her feet, tears mingling with blood. "I hate you!" she screamed. "You're a monster!"

The expression on Leo's face hardened. "Get used to it," he spat. "This is the life you chose." She staggered back, her sobs now wild and desperate.

While Leo stormed out of the house, Ivory collapsed to the floor. She screamed in tears across the empty house.

Sadly, the pain was sharp within her heart as the sting on her face, and the oppressive silence of the home seemed to mock her. The dreams of a loving marriage, of life together; each seemed no more within reach than the stars.

Ivory, who used to sound cheerful, was now speaking with fury and bitterness.How long can she endure when the man she relied on is causing her world to crumble?