AWAKEN

Expired Time

As we graduated from high school, her personality remained the same. Eventually, I dated some braver souls and found a job working at a bar. She didn't mind so much the older I got, as long as whoever it involved treated me with respect. Once, we discovered a guy was cheating on me with several women. I saw three days later a missing report on the news. They interrogated each woman other than myself. Their only response to the police and reporters received was, "He deserved it." Genna said the same, and I silently agreed.   

It wasn't until I hit my twenty-first birthday that I started making terrible mistakes, including my current fire-red head blazing blue boyfriend, Ethan Allen Bradley. Genna hates his living guts. At first, I thought it was Genna just being Genna's, but now that I stand here and think about it, I bet she knew all along his was an ass.

Like most men, in the beginning, Ethan would tell me every and anything I needed to hear. He had a tall physique and blazing blue eyes and abs that never ended. Ethan swept me off my feet. Literally. I was fortunate he was there because he caught me at the last minute from falling off a sidewalk into oncoming traffic. Our romance was just like the corny movies that I would sit up and watch with Genna.

I loved how well-mannered he was. He would always tell me yes, ma'am, please, and thank you. Ethan would never let me open a car door on my own. Even in the pouring down rain, he would run across puddles to get to my door first and hold the door open while he poked out his chest pride.

The government hired Ethan. Yes, that is all he said. He would never tell me what his job was. Ethan said if he told me, I would become a liability. He may have kept his career a secret, but he didn't mind showing his worth in public. Many women attempted to win Ethan's affection. His Southern charm and his physical assets smote them, and Ethan knew it too. He would leave them with an expression of awe. Not that I minded. I knew he loved me faithfully, and I trusted him full-heartedly. That was two years ago. I am a fool for believing the lies... One huge fool.

Fool or not, I kept trying to make our relationship work and believing that we had heated arguments like most couples. Genna tried her best to tell me he was no good for my soul, and I needed to move on. She kept saying, "Brea, it's time." But I didn't listen, and Ethan made sure he had his way...

Ethan would strut in the door in his tight-fitted slacks and navy buttoned-down shirt, each time bringing me gifts from random places on the way home. I would try my best to stay mad, but once he threw his s****l charm in the bedroom, I fell for it every single freaking time.

My God, the things he used to do me...

Gradually, Ethan's arousing attributes diminished. It was as if something evil grew inside of him. Ethan's needs and constant desire to have complete control over any, and everything became like a raging wildfire. His first target was with me. When we went in public, I had to dress in high-end designer clothing. Anything else "looked hideous." 

I had to keep up with the latest hairstyle trends, my nails perfectly manicured, my makeup had to appear flawless; every part of me had to look presentable to the public's eye. 

Another part changed in Ethan after the government provided a new home for him. We moved an hour and a half away from Genna. I missed not seeing her as often, but having a place with Ethan was exciting until he started to complain about how I took care of the house. If it weren't immaculate when he walked in the door, he would complain.

He would gripe if the floors didn't shine, or there was an ounce of dust on the chandelier or furniture. I would spend most of my day cleaning before he arrived home, but it still didn't look good enough for him. Ethan's dark demeanor spiraled out of control. I wish I would have left, but I didn't. 

Fool!

*******

One Friday afternoon not too long ago, Ethan came home with his fist clenched together. I was in the middle of starching his work shirts. Looking up, I discovered the whites in Ethan's eyes were pitch-black. I gasped at the sight of him. The way his shirt was hanging loosely down his thighs and his gold-trimmed belt were dangling past his unzipped trousers. 

Nervously, I laid the shirt on the oak kitchen table, and step by step, I approached him."Hi honey, what is wrong? Did you have a bad day?"

He remained silent as he ran his hands through his tousled hair and stomped past me to the living room. I kept my distance, but I was an i***t. I had to know what was bothering him, so I followed Ethan to the living room. There Ethan stood slowly, dragging his middle finger across the freshly polished cherry-wood coffee table.

He glared at me up and down with a look of disgust. He flipped his hand over to scrutinize every little line on his skin. He rubbed his thumb against his other fingers, spreading imaginary dust on his perfectly manicured nails before lashing out. "You are a nothing but a disgusting, filthy whore."

I covered my mouth in shock and yelled, "Ethan!"

I marched right up to him, ready to blast him a new asshole, but the closer I came, I began to smell the overpowering stench of Tequila, Bourbon, and a new brand of cigars. I glanced down at his unzipped pants and attempted to ignore my worst fears for the stench of musky perfume reeked from his clothes. 

"Ethan, how could you?" I whispered in shock.

I grabbed my purse off of the end table, feeling the rage within me building up. Just like when I was a child, the sweat beads came, and I was hot the core. From the kitchen, I heard the teapot crying for help, but I didn't care as I spat in his face. "Me a w***e? Do you even know what you look or smell like right now? You, you... bastard! " I grabbed my coat, feeling the tears burn, but I held them back.

Ethan's mouth hung open in shock. He was not used to me taking up for myself.

"You know what? I am going to Genna's. Do not call or speak to me until you are sober. Then and only then will I talk to you! I am sick of you being nasty to me all the time, but this... THIS is too much!,"

"You're not going anywhere!" Ethan hissed through his clamped teeth.

"Ethan! What the hell is wrong with you? You have never talked to me like this, and you smell like perfume! Are you... cheating on me?" I asked as he began to step closer.

He yelled, "Cheating on you? Ha! Is that all you care about right now?"

"Excuse me!" The audacity of his statement went through my veins like a sickening disease. I could not believe the way he was acting.

"You want to know what is wrong with me, Brea? I will tell you what is wrong with me!"

"Go ahead! I would love to hear it!" I dared as I adjusted my purse strap.

He hissed, "The government has offered me a new position!"

I didn't understand what the problem was. I thought Ethan had wanted a promotion for quite some time. "Ethan, you wanted this! I don't understand! What is your problem?"

"Of course, you don't understand! You wouldn't! You are too dense!"

"You know what? You can go to hell!" I screamed as I attempted to stomp off towards the door.

Ethan grabbed me by the arm and yanked me back. My purse fell to the floor as he snarled under his teeth. "I said you are not going anywhere."

"Ethan, let go of me!" I begged as I attempted to pry myself free.

"You wanna know why I am acting this way?" He asked in a deep, dark tone, "I will tell you."

He released his grip on me, but I could still feel his fingers imprinted on my arm. "It is what they said."

I wasn't sure how to answer him. I rubbed my arm up and down, knowing there would be a bruise there. I asked nervously, "What did they say?"

He crossed his arms and shifted his drunken body weight to stabilize himself, "They said, that I had the job, but only if I get rid of you."

 "Excuse me?"

He snarled through his tightened teeth, "They said that you will be bad for my image and if I wanted to make anything of myself that I need to lose you."

I crossed my arms and glared at him. "So, you're telling me, this job offer made you go get drunk?... Because you can't decide whether I'm worth the save?"

He ran his hands through his tousled red hair and flung his arms through the air. "You know what? I don't have time for this bullshit! I'm going for a drink!"

"Another drink?" 

He stomped past me, and never once looked back. My eyes burned from the raging tears that poured down my cheeks. He opened the door and walked out without bothering closing the door behind him. I stood there, wondering whether to leave or go as Ethan stammered down past the driveway and across the street. I was thankful he wasn't driving, but the problem was he never looked back and forth for traffic. He walked directly in front of an oncoming truck. 

The driver slammed on breaks and pressed their fist onto the horn several times. I sighed in relief. No matter how nasty he had been to me, I didn't want to see him hurt. Once I thought he was safe, I closed my eyes and released a silent breath of relief. As I began to close the door, I heard another car's horn going off like a fire alarm and the deafening sound of a thump. I whispered in fear, "Ethan..."

I spun around and saw the most horrific sight - Ethan's body tumbling towards the ditch. I ran towards him screamed fearfully, "ETHAN NO!"