Rosemarie Clark Stories

TW: domestic violence

8/30/25
“Who have you been sleeping with?” he shouted. I couldn’t hide the shock on my face at the accusation he hurled so sternly. This wasn’t the man I’ve loved for the last 5 years. The man who fought through my emotional roadblocks and was with me through it all. 
His eyes were dark as they pleaded silently. The carefree soul was far from here. “Only you,” I stammered out. The shock causing me to shake which betrayed my confidence in answering. He would think I was lying. But if I continue to beg, he will think it’s worse than what it truly is. 
“I can’t believe you,” he spoke into his hand as he gripped the bridge of his nose. Tears were starting to fall from his woodsy hazel eyes. The eyes that I allowed to see the real me but wasn’t seeing the truth now. 
“I don’t know where this is coming from,” I softly spoke while placing my hand on his shoulder. He stiffened and shrugged me off. It felt like a knife to my stomach, his rejection. 
It was in that moment that I saw myself, amongst the rubble of my emotional walls, as the ground began to shake. I had no where to hide, so I cowered as the walls started to build up around me again. It would take some time before they reach their effective height, but the effort to build the walls left me numb. I was unable to hear what he was screaming at me at this point. There was a protective veil between him and I until it happened. 
He grabbed both my arms and shook me, “what is wrong with you?” he spoke in a raised tone. It was the sound of his voice that roused me from my dissociation. But it still wasn’t right. 
I took a step back and bumped into our bed. I shuffled around for a second before losing my footing and falling onto the bed. That’s when the sobs tore through me. I couldn’t hold them back. 
The look on his face changed from rage to concern as he lowered himself to my level, kneeling on the ground next to my head. He shushed me softly while stroking my hair. With tears still falling, he ignored his own face and used his thumb to wipe mine away. “I am so sorry,” he whispered. 
I took a deep but shaky breath that calmed my hiccup reflex. I had so much I wanted to say but all I could do was open and close my mouth like a goldfish. I finally got out a squeaky version of, “I swear to you, there is no one else in my life.”
“I know. I know,” he assured. “I should not have believed her. You’ve told me what she’s like.”
“Who?” I inquire through sniffles. 
“Katrina”
I froze. Why would she be back let alone talking to him?

To be continued…