Page 26 of Tattered Souls

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The same thing that always happened.

I was getting tired of having my face caked with makeup to hide the fact that my boyfriend was a useless, piece of shit, man-beating woman.

And yeah, I know what you're saying.

Why in the hell do you put up with it? Why don’t you leave him?

Well, the truth is... I can’t.

I can’t for a myriad of reasons.

Ever feel like the entire world is resting on your shoulders, and you would give anything to relieve some of that pressure?

Ever feel like you were raised a certain way, and that’s the only way you know how to live?

That’s how I feel.

So, taking his shit, his hands on me when they shouldn’t be, was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

At least until I figured things out, and how life was supposed to be lived.

I was working on it.

“I love you,” Lance said as he started to walk out the door.

Say it back, Tatum.

Okay, now, say it.

Tatum, you know what’s going to happen if you don’t.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t freaking say it back.

I didn’t feel it.

And then... it happened.

I felt the back of his hand against my cheek. “Fucking bitch. Better have dinner ready when I get back.”

I nodded.

Another woman in my shoes would have called the cops.

But the cops wouldn’t do anything.

I knew it.

From experience.

‘I don’t tease you to make others jealous. I tease you, because I live to see your smile.’

– Garrick to Tatum.

Chapter 5

Garrick

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