Peace at Last

PEACE AT LAST

It was a windy evening, rain lashing down on the pub windows, one man
propped against the bar - alone - waiting to be thrown into the
storm.

Throwing out time, he drunkenly staggered from the pub and down towards
the path which would lead him to his home.

From a distance he could see his house standing out like a fortress at
the end of the road, and that white front door always acted like a
beacon signalling him to find his home in the stormy weather.

Walking towards his house, he knew it was his castle. He was the king
and always would be.

He was looking forward to going home, see his girlfriend to get his
pleasures as ususal.

At his front door, he tripped over the step as he reached his key from
his trousers pocket and put it into the lock.

Turning it, he let himself in.

His long standing girlfriend was always in bed when he got home,
obediently waiting for him. They had their routine and there was to be
no change.

She was a timid, fragile girl, with jet back hair and fragile bones. He
knew he loved her a lot, but could not help hurting her.

Hearing him enter, his girlfriend turned to face the bedroom door and
listened for his feet to thump each step in turn as he climbed them.
She was hoping that tonight wasn't going to be a repeat of every other
night. She did not think she could take much more.

In the bedroom next door to theirs, she always heard the cries of their
children as he hammered up the steps - terror in their cries.

Hearing her boyfriend open the children's door, she heard Julie cry
out, 'Dad,' and heard the both of them jump off their beds, picturing
them run to their father for him to hold them.

'Where have you been?' Joseph asked, clutching his father hard. 'We
have missed you.'

'I have only been out to the pub,' he whispered to them, walking them
back to their bed.

Both of them jumped onto their beds and waited for their father to tuck
them in. When he did, he bent to kiss them - Jade first. His mouth
tasted the sweat on her forehead, and he guessed he must have
frightened her when he came in.

He wished he never had this drink problem, and had tried counselling,
but that was no use - waste of money.

Joseph looked at him, frightened, sensing his father was drunk.

When his father looked at him, he could sense his son's fright and felt
anger rise within himself. He had to take it out on someone and looked
back towards the door to their bedroom, smiling from one side of his
mouth.

Leaving them, he did not want to hurt them and would have to let it out
of himself using other measures.

Walking towards the door, he grinned as he quietly left the room.

His girlfriend turned from the door as she heard him open their door.
She shook, hoping that tonight would not be a repeat of every other
night. She had wanted to leave him, but could not - frightened of him
following her.

Turning on the light, he looked at her, and she could hear him pulling
his belt through the loops of his trousers.

Slightly shuddering, she knew what was to come, and felt him touch her
shoulder, pulling her around.

She looked at his belt raised above his head and tried to turn back
around, but his grip was too strong.

Pulling his belt down hard, he hit her on the face twice.

Her heart raced - Was he going to kill her this time? She was too weak
to stand up for herself, which always made himself feel more
manly.

After two strikes, he threw the belt on the floor and undid his
trousers.

She dare not turn back from him and watched him undress and climb into
the bed beside her, nudging close to her.

As he pulled the blanket over them, she felt his hardness grow as he
held around her. She was scared, but dare not scream, not to frighten
the children.

Ramming himself into her, he went harder and hearder with each thrust.
'This is what you need,' he whispered to her.

The next morning was the same as every other. He got up as normal and
went to work.

His girlfriend got up and pulled the stairs down which led to the
attic, climbing them.

In the attic, she saw the box waiting for her under a rafter, and went
to it. Lifting one side of it, the rope was still underneath. Her
boyfriend had never found it, thank God.

Tying it around her neck, she stood on the box and threw the end of the
rope over the rafter. Tying it tighter, she kicked the box away and
fell limp.

This would be peace at last.