Silent Fight

The palm of her hand connected with his cheek, the sound reverberating across the popular five star restaurant silencing the hectic bustling of the servers fluttering between patrons. All eyes turned to the fighting couple, but their eyes were locked on each other. Danson pulled out a chair, the twitch in his clenched jaw the only sign of fury, but his black eyes danced with a promise, 'wait till we get home'.

The reticence in her body didn't reflect the turbulence in her mind at the sudden reflective rebellion. Mary raised her chin looking into his eyes, wondering if she would have a chance like this again.

Mary wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. Not this time. She spun away on her fourteen hundred dollar Dolce & Gabbana stiletto and snaked her way through the tables and out of the restaurant.

He didn't follow her, why would he there was more then one way to imprison someone. The expensive clutch she carried, had no money or credit cards, just a compact and lipstick. That was her job, to be his accessory, and it was her job to look and act the part. If she wanted to be successful in escaping this time, she would have to do it with what she had on. Luckily, for Mary, Danson liked to decorate her in expensive clothing and jewels.

Mary resolve had been made up for months, she couldn't endure the routine beatings. These days everything seemed like an opportunity. Calmly, she would step out onto the street, the cool night breeze creating goose bumps on her bare arms with its caressing kiss. Would she take off her shoes and run, or would she just stroll away, getting lost on the busy street. She didn't even have a wrap to keep her warm, so she would wrap her arms around herself, and relived the moments that had cumulated to this moment. It wasn't what he had whispered in her ear when the waiter had been escorting them to their table, it was the image it cultivated. His disgusting plans after the evening was over. What she had to look forward to and something in her snapped. The proverbial straw.

She walked aimlessly, getting her bearings in a city she had lived in all her life and now would have to abandon. That didn't bother her, she had no ties here accept to Danson, and that was one connection Mary was eager to break. Her wandering would lead to the Lucky Draw pawn shop, and a strategy formulated. Twenty minutes later, having sold everything from the expensive jewelry that had been draped on her to the dress that he had picked out. The owner had given her a backpack with clothes that she was all most certain weren't clean and plain white sneakers in her size. That he had produced from the back room connected by a door behind the counter. He had wanted the designer dress, after he discovered what her shoes were worth.

A wad of bills in the front pocket of her new to me jeans, she would step back onto the street with direction, and purpose. Around the corner is a bus stop, which would take her to the grey hound terminal and she could catch a bus out of town. Any bus to anywhere as long as it was far away from Danson Troy.

As the bus pulled out of the station heading west to freedom and a new life, Danson's wife Mary came back to reality as the hor d' oeuvres he had ordered were placed in front of them. She took two small bites, and no more. Not because she had no appetite but because she knew if she ate more then that she would subject herself to ridicule. Her palm stung from the slap that never ricocheted off his hard face. That woman, Mary didn't even know who that woman was, if she even existed. But she loved to fantasize about that woman. Mary envied that woman. Inspired to be that woman.

"Don't slouch" Danson a hiss commanded under his breath and her spine strengthened automatically. She waited until he started eating before raising her gaze to peer at him from under her thick lashes, her fork poised in her hand. How long could she live like this? she wondered.

She had made it two years, had it only been two years? It felt like a whole lifetime. At the time that she had met Danson, she had been broke, living in a studio apartment, taking classes online, and waiting tables at night in a jazz club, and the morning shift at a local dinner. She met Danson at the club, and started dating him. At first she had thought she had hit the jackpot, but after a six month whirlwind romance, they flew off to Niagara Falls to get married. He had beat her for the first time on their honeymoon. Then he raped her violently. In the morning he beat her again for 'flaunting' her bruises.

Back then she believed that she could prevent his assault if she just followed the rules. Now, she realized the violations will happen no matter what she does or doesn't do, Danson just enjoys the violence he can inflicted on her. One day, he would indulge in that joy to much, ending her life.

As the waiter came to take away their plates, Mary excused herself and walked towards the ladie's room without permission. This time she wouldn't return to that table, mentally or physically. Her heart raced, from fear yes, but also with hope.