“There is something you should know about me,” Camille spoke softly while looking ahead into the bedroom wall mirror at her reflection. Distress covered her face from worry of her partner’s reaction from what was soon to confess. Could she trust him, or would he end up being just like the rest of the them?
Stretched out on the bed and positioned between her legs was Darius, a co-worker whom she’d allowed herself to have feelings for the past three months. That night was the first evening they’d spend together, alone in an expensive hotel suite. Darius had spent his entire paycheck for the hotel room and their evening meal at The Caucus Room establishment in Washington, DC. He hoped his overspending would pay off later that night.
Frustrated by her demand to cease foreplay, Darius lifted his head from between her legs and rolled his eyes, showing little to no interest in whatever she had to say, but he would tolerate it by listening, just as long as he would leave the hotel with a notch under his belt and a story to tell to his co-workers, whom he set a wager with, guaranteeing he’d tag her that night. Taking her underwear would be his evidence to win the bet.
Darius looked at his partner as if he were interested. Camille however was concerned with what he’d say or do after she told him of her little secret.
It was several years and tears long ago, seated in the corner of her living room, making excuses to two police officers as to why she had bruises on her wrist, neck and lower back. She knew they didn’t believe her, they must deal with women like her all the time. The ones who defend their abusive boyfriends because they are madly in love with them, or confusing love with fear.
Calvin, —her boyfriend at the time— sat quietly on the couch as the officers kept a corner eye on him. They had no choice but to leave and explain to the neighbor downstairs that her concerned call for help was nothing more than the couple trying to reconstruct their living room furniture setup, but everyone knew Calvin was beating on her when she’d often threaten to leave him.
He’d always say he loved her, and there was no other man worthy of having her. He believed in his heart and mind that God made her for him, and he was not willing to let her leave out of his life under any circumstances. Though he was abusive, he’d go to hell for her, and he believed she should go with him. Continue Reading