Shadow Lover

The door swung open fiercely, almost coming off its hinges. Heavy thumping sounded on the floor as angry footsteps entered the house. An immense shadow cast its silhouette against the wall and floor. Backing away from the door, Angelica awaits her dark half. She had been in the kitchen preparing dinner, praying that she could make up for lost time and finish her dinner before six o' clock. She, with apprehension, looked at the clock hanging adjacently to the door. Although the dew of perspiration stung her eyes, and she had difficulty seeing, her blurred vision noted that the clock read five-fifty-nine with the second hand tenaciously racing toward the twelve.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, the red hand raced. It seemed to synchronize with the throb of her heart. In what seemed like five seconds was sixty and the clock now read six o'clock. Simultaneously, she turned off the burners, dinner was ready to be served. "Just in time" she murmured feeling relieved. Her life revolved around punctuality and schedule and late dinner was unacceptable. She hurriedly placed the dishes on the table, making certain that the utensils were in their proper place.

"Dinner is ready," she said in a voice barely audible. Of course this was not the utterance of a secret jamboree but a plea for mercy. Today was the first time in a long time that preparations were not ready at least fifteen minutes before it was due. Angelica, now approached and being dwarfed by the man's towering formidable size, is suddenly struck to the floor!

"No-o-o-o-o. Please. Someone please help me." Her pleas went unheard, falling onto no one's ears for there being no one around to hear her, to rescue her, to come to her aid. Living in the country had its advantages and disadvantages. Privacy was a disadvantage for these impetuous beatings, as they went at times mostly unheard and unnoticed. Only on such rare occasion, a nosy neighbor would witness her screams, catching intermittent episodes of her horrid beatings, but to no avail simply because people were reluctant to get involved in the affairs of others; tending to the social habit of minding their own business.

Continuing to crouch in the corner while using her hands to shield her face, a series of blows descended upon her one after the other. "Please stop," she cried, cowering within the cave created by her arms encircling her head. Again the blows came, crashing down with immense pressure to the top and back of her head. On occasion when she'd come up for air, a blow would catch her bruised face. When he realized that she was protected from his fury, the enraged man suddenly snatched her up from the security of that position and flung her into the nearby stove. The metal there bit into her flesh and she let out a yelp. Callously ignoring the injuries which he had inflicted upon his wife, he continued upon her with one of his hands reaching out for her and the other clasped angrily in the air preparing to render a powerful blow. Angelica suddenly realizing the potential damage the pending impact of this additional blow would carry, attempted to flee. Nevertheless, she was caught by her dress from behind, his snare causing her to fall backward and strike the right upper portion of her head. A loud sickening thud was heard as she fell, this time rendering her motionless on the floor. Angry eyes watched her, with fury and rage; his torrid handiwork he blindly admired.