by Kathy Downey

Created on: August 09, 2010   Last Updated: August 15, 2010

She stared at the image of herself in the photograph taken four months earlier. The bride smiles; her fingers entwined forever with those of a disembodied hand. Her groom had ripped himself out of that picture just one hour ago.

She had married Jeff six weeks after he began urgently pursuing her. His desire made the shy girl feel powerful and sexy. That feeling was irresistible. Their relationship held passion, unlike that of her parents. He was extremely jealous, but Ellen found that flattering.

His possessiveness intensified after the wedding. Controlling her every move, he grew angry if she spoke to other people. His temper erupted quickly and violently. Today she had conversed with a clerk at the grocery store while they were checking out. Jeff glared at her and pulled her away.

 He did not speak until they got home, but his rage exploded as they entered the apartment. Eyes bulging from his reddened face, he screamed, “You two timing whore,” as he grabbed a vase from the table and smashed it on the floor.

 He stormed out of the room, while she stayed in the kitchen, quietly putting away groceries and waiting for his fury to pass. Moments later, he strode back in, clutching the wedding photograph in one hand.

Without a word, he tore the picture down the middle, dropping half of it on the floor and shredding the other half into the trashcan. Then he left, slamming the door behind him. She cleaned up the broken vase before picking up the ruined picture and sitting down to look at it.

Early pregnancy hormones flooded Ellen’s system, leaving her nauseated and weak. What options did she have? She refused to return to the house with the stifling rules from which she had only recently escaped. That would mean facing her mother’s pursed lips and “I told you so.”

 Ellen knew that Jeff would be back in an hour or two. Contrite, he would climb into bed beside her, slipping his hands under her gown and kissing her neck. He would tell her that he needed her, and beg for her forgiveness.

Maybe if she just tried harder to placate him, all would be well, so Ellen decided to ignore the portent of the ruined photograph. She would make this marriage work…or die trying.

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