His hand was around my throat again. The fingers constricted as he slammed my head against the wall for the third time. The other hand began to travel down the front of me. The fingers from his free hand prodded at my ribs, which were showing more noticeably these days. As the fingers around my neck constricted slower, they found a suitable tightness and stayed that way. The other hand tore at my the bottom of my skirt. He enjoyed this, almost too much. I stayed silent, no need to say anything. That might just make it worse, anyways. He liked me like that, silent, in a pretty skirt, androgynous to the world. Feminine and masculine. Once the fabric was removed, nothing covered my body, it was bare. His hand abused my ribs some more before his hand slid further up to rub over my chest. This was all going to end soon, it was, I was sure of it. But I couldn't have been too sure. He bent his head next to mine, breathing hot air against my neck.

"My doll, my slut, my whore..." he whispered, biting steadily at my stickly flesh. "You remembered..."

I tried to think of what he could be talking about, what could I have remembered. I stayed silent.

"You remembered to wear the black skirt...You know how that blue one attracts so much attention. I can't stand when others look at you. It makes me violent, and I know you don't like me when I'm violent." The constricting fingers around my throat eased and came down to my shoulder. Both hands met my shoulders as he flipped me around, slamming my front to the wall, his mouth assaulting the skin on my neck. I immediately weakened.

"Mmmn, such a good little slut," he whispered coarsely.

It was true, I was shaking. It made me humiliated to be submissive so early in the game. After all, we were only just beginning...

It was over as soon as it started, though. By the end of the night, I was wrapped in his arms, breathing in the musky scent only he could carry. I loved him so, and so I always would.

"Has he been hurting you?" she said, exhaling the smoke from her full lips.

"Ehhh..." I averted my gaze to the ground, shifting nervously.

"Thought so."

"Listen, it's not what you think, I swear."

"Actually, I think it is. Although, I'll admit, you hide it very well."

Silence followed that.

I was sitting at the desk, writing. He walked in the room and came up behind me, handing me a bouquet of wild flowers.

"I bought these for you," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"Thank you, they're lovely."

I turned back and returned to my writing. He wandered away, to the bathroom. I glanced to the clock and noted it was 8:43pm. It was almost time.

I walked into the bathroom doorway, leaning against the frame. He stood inside, staring at himself in the mirror as he ran fingers through his raven hair.

"Do you need something, dear?"

"I was wondering if I could go shopping," I said faintly, folding my arms across my chest.

"Mmm...Yes," he said, turning to face me. He leaned forward and planted a forceful kiss on my lips, that I did not return. He pulled away. "You and your insatiable fetish for shopping. It's like a disease."

I smiled sweetly and accepted his credit card, leaving the apartment quickly. I walked down the stairs and quickly out of the main doors. I began to walk down the street, under the pouring rain. I walked at a fast pace, clothing quickly becoming drenched, my makeup obscuring my vision as I attempted to blink it out of my eyes. I walked up the stairs to an unfamiliar porch, knocking on the door. A few moments later, someone opened the door and peered out with shy green eyes.

"Can I help you?"

"May I use your phone?" I asked, wrapping sickly thin arms around myself, shaking.

"I don't think so..."

"Thanks anyways."

I continued to walk down the street, skipping the next house, but walking to the door of another, knocking on it in the same fashion. This time, a woman opened the door. She was silent.

"Can I use your telephone? I'll be quick, I swear."

"Yeah, sure. Why don't you come in?" She moved out of the way and I entered the warmth of her home. She showed me to the phone, and eyed me up and down. I could feel her eyes studying the bruises on my wrists. I placed the phone back on the receiver and turned to go wait outside for my friend.

"Why don't you wait in here?"

"Unn, thank you, but I can wait outside."

"You shouldn't let him treat you like that."

"Excuse me?" I couldn't remember ever seeing this woman before in my life. She gestured to my wrists.

"I can sense it, too. You're worth more than that."

"Th...thank you..."

"Please don't go home to him. I see what he does to you...Don't you have any self-respect? He makes you dress up in a god damned skirt."

I nodded. I was starting to feel sick, and I could feel the bile welling up in my throat. My eyes flooded with tears of mirth. I walked outside and stood by her mailbox, with the trained words repeating in my mind, "I can't believe how clumsy I am."