“Do you want pasta or chicken?” I ask my boyfriend, Adam. He’s away from me now, in the living room, and I’m glad; I don’t need any more bruises than the ones that decorate my thin arms.
“Chicken.” He responds. My heart drops when he speaks; we almost never use civil terms. It’s either him beating me up, or him throwing words at me.
“Okay.”
“And hurry, I have somewhere to be.” He tells me. Hurry, always ‘hurry, Julianna,’ or ‘Julianna, what the hell did I tell you?!’ But I know where he’s going when he tells me to hurry- Emilie’s house. “We’re just friends.” He told me once in an accusing tone; yeah, right… friends with benefits. I didn’t bring up the fact that I’ve found her clothes at our house. More than once. I didn’t bring up the fact that he never laid a finger on her, but me? Oh, it’s fine to beat Julianna up; no one will care.
“Fine.” I sigh, taking out the chicken and the ingredients for the breading. I can hear his footsteps, and they’re getting closer. My heart skips, but not for joy. My eyes search the room frantically, like someone faced with death.
“Babe.” Adam tells me as he enters the room. Shit, shit, shit- Julianna, you promised never to be in the same room as him again! “What’s with the one-word responses?” I hang my head and mumble something. He tenses behind me. “What was that?”
“Nothing.” I reply, this time I make my voice more audible. I lift my head higher and he has a sneer on his face.
“You’re going to pay, bitch.” He yells, pulling back his arm. I duck, my eyes searching for an exit. I find two; the kitchen door, or the kitchen window. The door. My feet move quickly beneath me as I bolt for the escape, dodging Adam and his looming fist.
“JULIANNA!” He shrieks behind me, and I hear the kitchen door being ripped off its hinges. Why do I stay with him? That’s what they ask me. My friends. My dad. Why do you stay with him, Julianna? We see the bruises on your arms and legs. We’ve seen him talk to you, we’re not blind or deaf. So why do you stay with him?
It’s complicated.

Notes

Hi there y'all! This isn't my first time posting fanfictions, I have an account on wattpad as @RedHawk_. Thank you for reading! :)