Beyond Shadows

It’s around seven afternoon by the time Matt and I arrive at the Midnight Dine restaurant. He
held my arm captive in his as he escorts me in. We walk to the front desk where a woman stood.

“Welcome to Midnight Dine. Do you have a reservation?” She says with a bright smile. In fact,
it was too bright that you could tell that she is faking it. I bet that underneath that smile, it’s a
miserable young woman, hoping to hit the jackpot, quit her shitty job where she has to stand with
all the shit customers and her boss has to throw at her.

I bet she wishes she was in my place. A place that you don’t have to worry about money, married
to an impossibly attractive man with a voice of a sinister angel. She’ll think that I’m living the
life of happiness and luxury, I bet she envies me.

Yes, I am Claire McQueen Sanders, wife of Mathew sanders. Yes, Matt is the one that brings
home the bacon, or in this case, lobsters and a lifetime supply of video games, tacos, beer, and
pop-tarts. Yes, I love him dearly, but underneath all those pros, there are some downsides. I’m
not allowed to work or go anywhere for that matter, without consent. I have to be his good girl
and do everything he says without questioning, or else I’ll get what I deserve.

“Yeah, I have made a reservation for two. It’s under the name of Mathew Sanders.” Matt says in
his polite voice, and smile.

The woman at the front desk, faces down to hide her blush and looks down at the reservation list.
I bet it’s his eyes and his dimples. It had the same effect on me when he first appeared into my
life. I don’t blame her, my husband is as hot as the depths of hell, but his personality can
sometimes be as dark as a shadow.

“Let’s see.” Her eyes scans through the pages. “Sanders… Sanders… Ah here it is.” She sets the
papers back in their places. “Right this way.” She grabs two menus and escorts us to a table that
has a beautiful view of the nearly dark sky. We also have a lovely view of the restaurant. There
is an ice sculpture of cupid in the center of the restaurant. Behind it was a lovely water fountain,
it is absolutely beautiful. And the chandeliers were lovely, it really does light up the place.

Matt takes a seat and signals me with his hands to sit. It would have been nice for him to pull out
a chair for me to sit, but I know he’s not really the romantic type of guy, he’s only lovey-dovey
whenever he feels like it, which is usually either when he’s in a really good mood which is rare
or after he hurts me bad. Without hesitation, I obey his order and take a seat across from him.

“A waiter will be right with you to attend you.” She politely smiles, handing us the menu.

“Thank you.” Matt gives her a nod, as she walks off.

“This place is absolutely beautiful, we should come here often.” I look through the menu.

“Why?” He asks as if offended from my comment. “So you could dress like a slut and whore
around?” He clenches his jaws.

“No, I was just saying.” I quickly say. “And I wouldn’t want to be with anyone that is isn’t you.”
I reach my hands out to his.

“Do you think I’m stupid, Claire? Look at what you’re wearing? Every guy is eyeing you.” He
over exaggerates with every guy checking me out. No man in this restaurant is looking at me, but
Matt. His hands move to my wrist, gripping it by force.

“Matt you’re hurting me.” I squeal.

“Well next time, you should wear more clothes and less make up. You’re only allowed to dress
up like this for me and in our bedroom, not in public for the world to see.” He tightens his grip.

“I wanted to look nice on our date, for you.” I try to clear up the misunderstanding. “I’m barely
wearing any make up and I’m wearing a dress with long sleeves. The dress also covers up my
chest. Besides the dress isn’t even that short, they’re below the knee. I don’t know how much I
need to cover up, more than I already am.”

Matt lets go of my grip. Leaning from across the table, he grabs my hair, muttering, “Your
fucking back is showing.”

“So? What’s wrong with that?” I dare to ask.

“You’re practically saying that you’re not wearing any bra. Hell you’re probably not wearing
any underwear either for all I know.” He let’s go, siting back down.

A waiter finally arrives to take our order. “Are you two ready to take your order?” She asks.

“Yeah, I’ll have the chicken-“

“Give her a chicken salad. I’ll have the prime rib, and bring us the finest wine you have in
stock.” Matt cuts me in the middle of the sentence.

Really? Salad? I wanted the chicken Panini, not a chicken salad. What’s the point of him
bringing me here when I can’t even order my own damn food? I can order my own shit. This is
just so unfair.

I didn’t let any emotion show. I watch the waiter write down our order. “I’ll be right back with
your order.” She politely smiles, walking away.

“I didn’t want salad.” I utter.

“You need to eat healthy. Just look at you, you’ve gained some wait recently.” He deadly stares
right into my eyes, without showing any sort of emotion. “I want to keep you fit, and not grow as
big as a whale. You’re already starting to look like a pig.” That statement pained me. Keeping
myself under control, I stood up from my seat. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“The restroom, I’ll be right back.” I say impassively.

“I’ll go with you.” He stands up.

“To the lady’s room?”

“Can’t risk on letting you go alone.”

“I’m not going to be with anyone else.” I assure him. “Just please, let me go alone, I’ll make it
quick.”

“Five minutes and counting.” He sits back down, unconvinced.

“Five minutes.” I nod, heading straight to the restroom.

Tears escape as soon as I enters the lady’s room and let out the emotions I’ve been holding in.
Everything I do for him doesn’t seem please him. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him
anymore.

I look up at the horrifying reflection of myself in the mirror. My eyeliner is smeared and the
bruise from my cheek is starting to show. I wiped my tears and tried to calm myself down. I set
my purse down to take out my concealer. I start putting some on. When the bruise is hidden, I
scan my body for any sighs of unwanted body weight. I turn around, facing the mirror to see if I
could see my back.

I remember what he’d said earlier about my exposed back, so I let my hair down to cover it up. I
grab a napkin and use it to wipe off the red lipstick and replaced it with some lip gloss. When I
put my lip gloss away, I look down at my bruised up wrists. They hurt so much but I can’t do
anything about it, I’m the one who asked for it.

“Excuse me miss?” I turn up to see a woman around my age with brown eyes, blond curled up
hair with bangs and very pretty. “Did your husband did this to you?” She looks down at my
wrists.

I quickly hide my wrists from her. “I had an incident, you know with all the heavy lifting and
stuff, from work.” I lie. First off, Matt did this to me a few moments ago, and second, I don’t
even work, Matt doesn’t let me.

“You don’t have to lie to me. I’ve noticed the way he was treating you.”

“Excuse me but, do I know you?” I cross my arms.

“No, sorry. I’m Michelle. My husband is a friend of Matt’s… Look just stay away from him,
okay? Leave him, and go somewhere far from him.” She advises.

“Why would I even do that? He’s my husband and I love him...” I shake my head.

“Because I don’t want you to end up like Val.” She said.

“Claire?!” they heard Matt’s footsteps. The bathroom door flung open and there he was, standing
right before our eyes.

Matt glared at Michele as she challenged his stare. Neither of them said a single word, instead,
Michelle walked past him. He watched her walk off, before turning his eyes back on me. “Let’s
get back to our table.” I head out until I felt his hand on my arm, turning me around to face him.

“What did she tell you?” He questions.

“She wanted me to leave you, she thinks you’re a danger.”

Matt takes a deep breath. “Are you though?”

“Am I What?”

“Leaving me?” He sounds desperate. “Please don’t I love you. I don’t know what I’ll do without
you. I need you.” I could swear he was about to cry. “Please baby, don’t.” Yep, he was about to
cry.

“Of course I won’t leave you. I love you too.” I pull him in for a hug.

I still couldn’t help but wonder about Val. Who is she? What did Michelle mean by me ending
up like Val? What happened to her? Where is she now? I need to know. I need to see Michelle. I
want her to tell me everything, but how? How can I find a way to see her again? I don’t know her
number, I don’t know where she live, and there is no absolute way to communicate her. I don’t
even know any of Matt’s friends.