Alcohol Anonymous

Here’s to new beginnings!

My first step out of the plane in New York City.

My very first flight experience. And, Oh! My ultimate getaway.

For once, everything seems possible.

Emma. My beautiful Emma. My best friend of 9 years was standing there with a big sign saying, “ Welcome Lucy! “. We embraced and we obviously squealed and giggled like teenagers.

I’m renting a room at Emma’s apartment, which she shared with her boyfriend William. William was the perfect boyfriend material and he treats Emma like a princess.

So, this is it huh? Liberty. A chance to start over. I don’t think I’ll ever miss home. Besides the fact that I got a job at Emma’s antique store, I’m also an artist, but you know how that goes, the income isn’t sufficient to put food on the table, so a part time artist you could say.

I loved the store, every item has a story to it, timeless beauty. I didn’t have much to do though, time moved very slowly, until, I laid my eyes on him.

The mere sight of him has me weak in my knees. He wasn’t a boy next door, he was a man, not really what girls my age would look for.

If you knew Lucy, she would have been too insecure to start a conversation or even make eye contact.

Well, that’s exactly what happened.

Lucy, let’s go grab a couple of drinks!

I know this amazing bar down the street and it’s a good chance for you to look around the city!

I love New York!

There’s so much life to the city!

It’s like a massive ball of electricity!

The lights, skyscrapers, the loud sounds of people talking in a crowd…

Even the food and drinks here tastes better!

Or maybe, im just tipsy?

The month went by quickly.

I have been painting a lot but haven’t really found buyers.

I saw him again. He walked into the store.

My heart stopped beating briefly.

He smelled like expensive cologne and cigar.

I love how his blue eyes match his light blue high waist jeans.

We made eye contact!

Excuse me, sweetheart, I’m looking for a grandfather clock, it’s for my old man, he has a big collection going on so this would be a splendid gift, he paused and chuckled.

Arthur and I talked about many things, besides the good old clock; here I am with his digits on my phone and a Sunday morning date.

How would someone even dress up for a Sunday morning date to a bookstore/coffee shop with classy, charming gentlemen twice your age?

I was early, I’m really hoping my black jumpsuit and statement necklace would get him looking.

The sound of the coffee shop bell and that familiar cologne, I knew he was here, I desired him, in every way known to man.

Arthur drank his coffee, dark like mine.

He was youthful, humorous and we loved reading the same books.

Just like me, he believed in the existence of aliens and passionately spoke about astronomy.

I wonder why he never got married?

I called home occasionally. Mostly, to speak to my ma, we spoke about many things, sometimes even about Arthur.

Wonderful months have gone by since Arthur and I got into a steady relationship.

Emma wasn’t in favor of the man in my life and constantly made ‘ sugar daddy ’ jokes because my Arthur was 50 and I was around my second decade.

Tonight’s dinner is a significant one.

I’m meeting his twin sister that was in town for the weekend.

We are going for a nice dinner in a Mexican restaurant.

As expected, I fell in love with Cassie, she was very supportive of our relationship.

Right after desert, Arthur proposed.

Of course, I said YES!

IM GOING TO BE A MRS!

I moved out of Emma and Will’s place into my fiancés 2 storey house.

I quit my job at the antique store and I decided to focus more on my paintings.

I even have my own art room!

We decided to stay engaged for a long while before getting into a wedding.

I was the perfect housewife, I cooked, cleaned and Arthur goes to check on his business daily.

I love Arthur more than I could ever love myself.

I always will.

But he drinks a little too much, everyday.

Wine glasses turned into beers and whisky.

I can’t remember the last time he went to bed sober.

This wasn’t the man I fell in love with.

Arthur stopped looking after himself, he doesn’t shave and goes days without a shower, he barely eats at home, he goes for drinks every night with his friends and sleeps on the couch once he gets home.

He even stopped checking in to work.

The intimacy has gone and we don’t even have sex.

That night, I confronted him;

’ Honey, what’s wrong?

Can you please talk to me?

I want to help you.’

’Get off my face Lucy,

Dammit! I don’t need to be saved’, he said.

As I got closer to him to give him a hug, he pushed me aside and went out.

As days passed, we fought more,

I wanted him home but he wanted me away.

It’s confusing.

Some days, Arthur was amazing. For a few hours. Probably, a couple of hours after his drinks.

Other times, he was furious, paranoid and mean.

His condition kept worsening.

We couldn’t manage the household because Arthur stopped working.

That’s when I called Emma.

I am now back to work at the antique shop.

She warmly welcomed me.

’Where the hell did you go Lucy?

I tried calling you for the past two hours!’

‘ Honey, I just got back from work. Emma and Will asked me to join them for an early dinner so…’

‘So what Lucy? I don’t give a rat shit! You should be back by 6!’

‘No Arthur! You should get a job and lay off the god damned stinky couch!’

‘What did you say??!!’

I woke up on the hard, cold, marble floor.

I supposed I passed out after he swing his arms for a hit.

Oh! And he wasn’t home.

I’m not even surprised.

‘ Lucy darling, what happened to your face?’

‘Oh! I fell this morning, so much for being clumsy eh?’

‘ That definitely doesn’t look like an accident.’

Here is where I hated myself for doing this;

‘ Emma can you please mind your own business, I’m here to work and I know for sure that I’m not fishing for your sympathy ’.

There are days where Arthur doesn’t come home,

I secretly loved those days,

I feel safer without him at home.

‘ Lucy give me a hundred dollars’

‘ What for sweetheart?’

‘I need a hundred dollars!’

‘I can’t, we don’t have enough to….’

Before I completed my sentences, he grabbed me by my hair and pushed me real hard against the wall.

‘Lucy, now don’t make this hard for me, give me the money!’

In fear, I obliged.

I am aware that by now I should leave but I can’t get myself to,

I’m in love with this man, he was there for me when I needed him.

Truthfully, I wouldn’t know how to go on without him.

I need him!

‘Lucy darling, can I have a word with you?’

‘Sure Emma’

‘You are my best friend; you can talk to me about things. You aren’t yourself anymore, I can’t remember the last time I saw a smile on your face’.

I was a victim of domestic violence.

I know it, Emma knew as well.

‘I’m just tired Emma’, I faked a laugh.

Arthur hasn’t been home three days in a row.

Oh! Wait! I think he is home now, a loud slam on the door.

This time, he is infuriated.

He started picking up a fight for nothing. He was obviously too drunk or is it drugs now, I don’t know which one is worse.

He threw everything on the ground, our plasma Tv, his cell phone, flower vases and many other valuables.

He acted very strangely.

The moment he got closer to me, I knew I had to run.

I quickly went to our bedroom and locked the door behind me.

‘Open the door!’

‘Don’t piss me off!’

‘I’m going to break the door’

‘And once I get in, I’m going to make your death an accident’.

I sat against the door I held shut, in tears, feeling helpless.

His punches and kicks on the door terrified me.

If he got in, I would be in trouble.

I needed to save myself from this monster.

I grabbed the table lamp for protection and waited for the disaster that is bound to happen.

He got in after a few thumps…

I hid behind the door and hit his head real hard as he entered,

He fell on the ground and I ran for my life.

However, Arthur grabbed my leg and dragged me next to him on the floor and started strangling my neck.

‘Lucy, Lucy, I told you not to upset me!’

He got on his feet and pulled me by my hair downstairs.

And then, tied me to a chair!

‘You beast! Let me go!’

‘Haha Lucy no, let’s have some fun alright?’

This was Satan.

With a destructive motive.

He took a pair of scissors,

‘Look at your shiny, bouncy, brown hair; this is how you woo all the other men?’

He grabbed my hair real tight and chopped them off as he laughed hysterically.

’What the heck is wrong with you?

You are crazy!

Let me go, you insane freak!’

’No I love this game, let’s keep playing.”

He has tied me up to the chair for almost 48 hours now.

I’m thirsty, starving, exhausted and heartbroken.

He goes out and when he gets home, he physically abuses me as he placed duct tape over my mouth.

Disgusting piece of shit!

Why Emma hasn’t came looking for me?

Maybe because I have distanced myself from her?

Or has he met her and told her something?

I’m sorry Emma.

I should have talked to you.

I feel so stupid.

Being held hostage is driving me crazy.

I need a backup plan to escape.

He came back. ‘You useless woman, about time I get rid of you for good’.

He ripped the tape off my mouth.

‘Arthur honey, look at me, I love you so much, I’m sorry for what I did, please let me go!’

‘No way!’.

’Baby we can make this work, you want money?

I have some.

I’ll get it for you, you can go out for drink with your friends and by the time you are home, ill prepare a nice dinner for both of us?’

He came close to my face.

’Lucy don’t mess me up alright?

Just shut your filthy mouth!’

I kissed him, in the most convincing way.

I told him that I loved him.

I played the game so well, he untied me.

I gave him a hug,

As I quickly grabbed the knife he used to untie me and stabbed his back.

Three god damned times!

I was relieved.

I had a huge grin on my face.

I enjoyed the process of his death.

I liked how his eyeballs turned red from the pain.

I love the dark red blood flowing his skin.

For once, in a long time, he looked beautiful with his nasty mouth shut, struggling to talk.

The momentum of his chest as he was catching his breath.

Arthur is gone.

It’s just a body without a soul.

Maybe now we can live happily ever after.

As I lay on him dripping in blood,

And I said,

I love you Arthur!

Till’ death do us apart.