Chapter 4

All through Winter and Spring Sarai was miserable, her birthday being the absolute worst, Bruce called on the morning of her birthday; making her feel lousy for having a birthday to celebrate her life all because his father had passed away; Bruce expected Sarai to be in mourning with him. No matter how much Sarai tried to explain that she was in no way disrespecting the mourning period, Bruce was always drunk and flaunting how wealthy he was. The day before her birthday Sarai and Bruce went on  a “date”, Sarai attempted to make things work, but the very second that Bruce tried to hold her hand or kiss her, just repulsed her and she pulled back instantly and made excuses, this was also done of many of the previous “dates” that Sarai went on with Bruce, each time she was more miserable than the last, Sarai thought back to the last lunch date with Bruce, where he refused to pick her up, or even bring her flowers… ever, claiming that they would die and just a huge waste of money.

On many occasions Sarai tried ending the relationship, it only led to Bruce screaming and shouting, verbally abusing her in public and slut shaming her emotionally, manipulating her by using his father’s passing as the trump card. The remainder of Sarai’s pre-birthday lunch was met by continuous bragging about his inheritance of the family business, the estate and how he would be busy and have no time for these dates.

“Oh, I see; I understand I guess”

“You have to understand, I have many responsibilities and you have not fulfilled any of your duties towards me.”

“Like what?”

“Think about it”

Bruce ordered his third double bourbon, Sarai could see what was about to unfold, she took a sip of her water; Sarai was not the woman to be publicly shamed or let a man always supress her opinions; but Bruce was a monster in disguise and often she did not feel safe with him; Sarai was reaching a limit and today she was putting an end to this bullshit, just then she felt Bruce’s hand trying to run up her thigh and under her dress, she slapped his hand away,

“What the hell is wrong with you”

“Calm down baby, its just me”

“Yeah, that’s the problem”

“EXCUSE ME! YOU ARE MY WOMAN, MY POSSESSION AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME TOUCHING YOU!”

Sarai got up from the table, paid her half of the bill and walked out the restaurant, thankfully she had picked up all the things for her birthday, Bruce ran up behind Sarai and grabbed her arm,

“Let go, you’re hurting me”

“Don’t walk away from me!”

“I said, LET GO!”

Sarai yanked her arm out of Bruce’s harsh grip, she paid for her parking ticket and walked away rom a very confused Bruce; as she reached her car, Bruce slammed her against her car and twisted her left arm behind her back

“Bruce, let go”

“Never, I want us to sleep together”

“I have told you I am not ready”

Bruce pulled her arms further across her back and watched as tears fell down her face and she winced and squirmed in pain,

“Awwww, would you look at that, you’re so excited that you cant help but cry out of happiness”

“You belong in a mental asylum Bruce”

Bruce turned Sarai around and held her up against her car, forcefully pressing his hard crotch against Sarai’s pelvis, Sarai, fought back; pushing Bruce of her, Bruce grabbed her face and squeezed it,

“I will have sex with you in this very parking lot and force you to fulfil your duties as a girlfriend to me”

“Not a chance in hell”

Sarai kneed Bruce in his balls and watched him fall to the ground, she looked down at her wrists that were covered in red blotches from Bruce’s fingerprints; she was shaking with fear and felt disgusted with herself; Bruce was starting to get up on his feet and she could see the rage rising, he would rape her if she did not get of her, he was about to lunged forward and Sarai tried to shield herself; the sound of a man with a deep voice broke the intense moment,

“Everything all right Miss?”

Bruce whirled around and glared at the security guard,

“Mind your own business buster, I am having a conversation with my woman”

The large man got out the cop cart and stood tall over Bruce whom was now looking up at the security guard, Sarai used this time to unlock her car

“I was talking to the lady”

Bruce looked at Sarai, and pulled her close, faking the emotion; Sarai acted as if she was just standing there, but her car door was already opened,

“Yyyess, sir, everything is okay”

The security guard raised any eyebrow,

“Young man, come with me”

“For what?”

“I am giving you an instruction, are you not willing to comply?”

Bruce pushed Sarai aside and got into a heated argument with the security guard, Sarai jumped into the car and sped off from the mall, once she was on the freeway her phone buzzed and Bruce’s number popped up on her radio, she refused to answer; she needed to get her thoughts together and stop feeling disgusted, she looed at her wrists again and saw the red marks were fading, but her left arm was sore, her arm felt swollen, at the next traffic light she lifted up the sleeve of her t-shirt and saw pink-bluish fingerprints where Bruce had grabbed her; her hip bones felt tender and she could feel the lump in her throat growing. The traffic light turned green, and Sarai put metal to the pedal, she got home and pulled herself together.

She unpacked the stuff from the car, the garage looked so beautiful with the balloons and “Happy Birthday” banner across the wall, white and gold tabled clothes and chair covers. Sarai dropped the packets on one of the tables nearby, her sisters looked up at her and they noticed how Sarai was near tears, Serena and Sadie walked to Sarai. Serena outstretched her hand towards Sarai, but Sarai pulled back

“What happened Sarai”

“Nothing Serena, I just feel overwhelmed; I don’t feel like I am where I am supposed to be in life”

“Sarai, its okay… you came home on unpaid leave because dad was sick”

“Sadie, it’s not just work its this toxic relationship that I am stuck in”

“Then break up with him”

“I’ve tried that Serena, but I just feel so guilty to leave him when he needs me”

It was a complete lie, she knew that if she told her sisters that not only was she emotionally and verbally abused; but Bruce was now bordering physical abuse, and her sisters would tell her parents and she knew the drama that would follow, she started feeling light headed and overwhelmed again.

“Sarai, you wake up and go to sleep crying; you stay snappy and miserable and you are just not you”

“I am sure things will get better, I am going take a hot shower and then I will come help you girls set up for my birthday tomorrow”

Sarai did not give the girls a chance to talk further, she got up; acting as if she was in no pain”

Sarai locked the bathroom door and undressed; she looked at her body in the mirror, her hips were bruised from being slammed up against the car, her thighs had blackish blue marks and the fingerprints on her arm were very distinct. Sarai’s phone began to ring and it was Bruce calling again, she didn’t answer; the texts came rolling in, he was guilt tripping her for not being at his fathers funeral or the memorial service that was two weeks ago. He was calling her a bitch and a cheap slut that he could replace tomorrow, going on about how lucky Sarai was to have him in her life, Sarai rolled her eyes, more like a curse. The phone rang again, Sarai answered this time.

“What”

“Is that how you talk to me?”

“Right now be grateful I am even tolerating you”

“Oh…”

“Again… What?”

“Do you not love me anymore”

“I have not loved you for a long time Bruce”

“Then leave”

“I want to but you keep putting me on a guilt trip about your father”

“You and your family have caused me emotional distress and trauma”

“And what about how you have caused me trauma?... You know what, I cannot do this anymore; we’re through”

Sarai hung up and she sat on the cold tiled floor of the bathroom and sobbed; she felt all alone.