Realization

Realization

Mary Anne lived in a rather picture-esque marriage where she and her husband enjoyed a life without many worries. They were never hungry, and they never worried about being homeless. Her husband, James Alberts, worked as an accountant where he earned a respectable salary. Mary Anne often bragged to her friends about all the luxuries that she was able to buy with the money and that she was able to send her children to a competitive private school. Even though Mary didn’t have a career of her own, her husband assured her that she didn’t need one and that she should stay home with the kids instead.

There was a time when Mary wanted to reactive her law license and continue practicing as a public defendant, but her husband told her that she was needed at home because he didn’t want his children to be raised by a maid. Mary decided that she didn’t either, and stayed home with her children. Mary missed her old career, but decided that once they were in college, she could continue her career.

Mary often talked to her mother about home life, and her mother was supportive of her decisions, saying that children needed at least one parent with them. Mary also bragged to her mother about the house she and her husband lived in saying that she had hired a professional designer to create the house and that she added multiple decorations that gave the house more personality. For all her friends and family knew, Mary was living in a dream life that most women could only dream of living in. Or at least, that was what she told and presented to other people.

During one day, her husband came home, angry about how things at work had ended up. He was sulking and grumbling about how his boss yelled at him for failing to make his quota. As he entered the living room, he poured himself a drink from an expensive bottle of whiskey, which had a very strong and unpleasant smell. Mary Anne quickly picked up the smell and found out that her husband was home. However, she did not try to approach him as she knew that if he was drunk, he was unpleasant to be around.

“Mary, where are you,” yelled James who was sounding even more angry now that he had a drink of whiskey, “where are you, I need you here with me.” Mary Anne knew that if she even came near him, he would try to grab her.

“I’m busy,” said Mary, “I am on the phone with my mother.” Mary picked up the phone and pretended to talk to her mother, hoping that James would be too drunk to notice that she was only pretending.

“You are lying,” said James who yelled at the top of his voice, “if you were talking to your mother, I would’ve heard you talking when I came home.” “You constantly talk to her non-stop on the phone, and it drives me crazy the way you talk to her. You constantly brag about the things I bought for you as if you earned anything in your life.” As James yelled, he began to slur his words more. “Why don you com dow her.”

When Mary Anne heard this, she began to breathe more slowly as his voice hit her like an icepick. “I was just listening to her talk,” she said, “I will be down there in a second.” Mary was hoping that he would pass out before he became angrier. “I just need to wait for thirty minutes, and then maybe he will fall asleep, and when he wakes up, he will be his old self and we can be happy again.”

Unfortunately for Mary Anne, he didn’t fall asleep and began to walk upstairs, stumbling as he went along. “Don’t you talk like that to me,” said James angrily who was also spilling his whiskey, “I paid for everything that you own, and you never show me any respect.” “How many women do you know treat their husbands like this.” Mary Anne knew about other wives who were abused by their husbands. She could tell as they covered their bruises using make-up.

“I will be down there in a moment,” said Mary who was beginning to sound scared. “What am I going to do,” Mary thought to herself, “I am not looking forward to what might happen next.” Mary quickly tried to think of ways to either distract him or escape. Thinking quickly, she locked the door, hoping that will stop him.

“Why you,” yelled James who spilled his whiskey while he yelled, “I will get you for this.” “No one disrespects me like this.” James then tried to force the door open and grabbed the doorknob and violently shook the door. Mary Anne knew that if he grabbed her, he would injure her. “Why you, you won’t get away with this you spoiled brat.” James went on like this for about twenty minutes before falling on the floor and passing out.

When Mary Anne finally opened the door after about an hour, she found James on the floor in a pool of vomit. The smell was almost overwhelming for her. “Even for him, this smells terrible,” said Mary. Mary had spent months making excuses for him and putting up a façade that they were a happy couple. However, James had been behaving like this for so long, Mary Anne couldn’t remember when the abuse began. As she thought about what she would do next, she began to pack a suitcase with clothes, food, and health products including a toothbrush and toothpaste.

“I don’t know why I lived here for so long, but I am sure about one thing,” said Mary to herself, I am leaving tonight.” Mary also knew a place where she could go, which was an apartment owned by a family friend. Mary also tried to run before, but couldn’t do it, and when she returned, she had to cover her bruises with make-up when James was done with her. “I tried so many times, and now is the last time I set foot in this house.” Mary then took the keys to her car and drove away from the house, leaving James in his pool of vomit.