That’s It No More

Image by prettysleepy1 from Pixabay 

Why was he always yelling at her? Mary, a gentle-spoken woman knew the neighbors could hear his stentorian bark as they’d called the police more than once since they moved here from across the country a year ago.

Joe thought Mary was easily influenced and his mission was to get complete control over her. What Joe didn’t realize was that Mary had plans of her own and they didn’t include Joe.

Joe’s behavior was fine before they married six months ago and soon after he turned into someone Mary didn’t know. He was like a Jekale and Hyde. She wished she’d listened to her father after the first time he’d met Joe. He had taken her aside and in a very low, soft voice said I don’t like this guy. There’s something about him that’s not quite right, but I can’t put my finger on it just yet.

Each day it got worse. It started out at first with Joe yelling at Mary for the most nonsensical little things. Then after a few weeks, he tried to control her every move.  When she was out of the house, he demanded that she call him every thirty minutes. Lately, he would put her down and try to make her feel stupid, incompetent, insignificant, and pretty much unloved. Mary wouldn’t be broken down; she was too strong-willed.

Finally, the last straw was when Joe raised his hand with his fist clenched threating to hit her for not having his dinner ready when he arrived home early. Enough was enough and Mary was not going to live like this for any longer.

Week after week Mary would stash away as much money as she could until she had enough for a taxi and a plane home.  She broke free.

This story is totally fictional. I only wish that more people would and could stand up for themselves like Mary and get out of bad situations.

©Susan Zutautas 2019

This short story was written for Opposites Attract Challenge over at The Haunted Wordsmith.