The eye of the rose
At first Juliana wasn't so sure what was happening. She thought that it was another of his tantrums. His ever present fits of rage and madness. She had been married to him for exactly three years, four months and two weeks.
She was in the kitchen when he stormed in. It was 7 pm and the yellow bulb was casting long shadows across the milky coloured cabinet. The kitchen was hot and Adriane their 3 months baby was in her crib screaming.
Juliana was rushing on with the chopping so she could go breastfeed Adriane.
"Are you deaf? " William said again.
Juliana held her breath and tried to do the ' count to ten thing' but somehow she knew that this wasn't going to work. Not tonight.
It had been a long day. She had waited with Adriane from 9 Am to 2 Pm before the local health insurance company had Okayed her and her baby for a turn at the General Hospital downtown. She had gone there under the scourging sun. With heavy Adriane sagging from her carriage.- heavy and crying or rather howling.
Luckily she had been seen by a doctor before 3.30. She had come home to discover that all the food in the fridge and pot had been exhausted. she had made a mental note to go to the market downtown.
But she had forgotten.
It wouldn't have been an issue if not for William. The guy was a foodie quite literally. But if that were all, it would have been better. The guy also had a serious thing with temper. It was this that made Juliana, despite being tired and worn out to turn on her heel and go out to the market.
She had returned to find William at home fumming at first. She had know that it was a bad sign but hell, it wasn't her fault that she was going to prepare dinner by that time.
The first bomb came when she asked him if he could help with the baby. He had sat up to give her a resounding slap.
The world had spun round in Juliana's vision but she had held her peace until now.
She was chopping the carrots when he stormed into the kitchen. " Are you deaf woman? " he said for a second time. Juliana stopped chopping and waited. The pulse on her neck became more pronounced and her grip on the brown handle of the long kitchen knife became firmeer.
Still facing away from him, still hunched over the cabinet with the carrot in the tray a d the baby howling in the living room she said, " if you have something to say then say it and stop being silly."
He spun her round to face him and that was when it happened.
She turned round with his grip and lurched the blade into his stomach.
It was not until ten seconds later that she knew what she had done.
It was the hot dripping blood on her bare feet that brought the realisation home.
She screamed until she passed out.
Harsh. Domestic violence is a difficult topic to tackle.
Made me think of the song "Cell Block Tango" From the musical Chicago.
Yes. It very much is... Unfortunately it still goes on. But the problem is that those abused prefer not to mention it outside until it ends in disaster . Thanks for the comment sir.