Beyond Shadows

Michelle have left about an hour ago and has given me a lot to think about. I head into the
kitchen and help myself with some wine. After serving myself, I take a seat on the kitchen table.
The scene from what Michelle have told me earlier keep playing in my head over and over again.
The sympathy I feel for the loss of her unborn niece or nephew and the passing of her twin sister.
This happened because of Matt. What if I’m the next Val? What then? If I stay here with Matt
any longer then I might wind up dead, just like his first wife.

It is still hard for me to imagine him as a killer. I knew he was always treating me like shit since
after we married, even a little when we just met but a murderer? Is he really that cold hearted? I
take a sip of my wine.

I start to imagine the scene of the crime. Matt and pregnant Val by the stairs, arguing. He lays a
hand on her and beats her as brutal as he tends to be with me. Val drops to the ground, crying out
in pain with her hands on her baby bump. She begs for mercy for the sake of their child, he
wouldn’t listen, instead he keeps going. She begins to bleed from between her legs as Matt kicks
her belly, probably even throwing inn some punches. Suddenly, the crying stops. His wife lays
unconsciously with a dead fetus. He stops and starts to freak out, thinking she’s dead. I turns
around and spots Michelle peeking through the window in shock.

I drink up every drop of wine in my glass and serve myself more. I now I could be next, if I
decide to stick around. I’m terrified to leave him though, what if I get caught? He’ll kill me
without hesitation. I down the whole glass of wine and go for a third round.

I check my watch and notice it’s four in the afternoon. Matt would be home by either six or
seven. I still have time, time to leave. I drink up my wine and head over to the phone and look
through the caller ID to search for Michelle’s number. I found the number without a name. I
assume it is Michelle. I press call. It only rang once before it’s been answered.

“Hello? Michelle? I’ve called you because I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to listen to your
warning and get as far away as possible from Matt. He’ll be home in about two hours, so if you
can, please come and get me ASAP, I want to leave before he comes home.”

“Claire? Is that you?” It’s a male’s voice. Not Michelle.

Hang up the phone, and stare at it. What if it was Matt? Then I’ve just given myself a death
sentence, and I just put Michelle at risk.

I get startled by the phone. I don’t pick up, I just stare at it. Afraid it might be Matt. I’m terrified
on what he’ll have to say.

I run upstairs after the ringing stops. It starts to ring again and again. I continue to ignore it and
quickly decide to pack some of my belongings. I don’t want him to be here by the time he gets
home.

After I’m done, I head into Matt’s office where he has his safe. I put in the password and take out
a couple hundred of dollar bills, enough to get me started for my new life, a life without fear. I
close the safe and write Matt a note that states I’ll be leaving him. I even mention to him that
I’ve taken some of the money from his safe. I also included that I’ll be sending him the divorce
papers, and if he refuses to sign, then I’ll have to take legal actions against him.

I didn’t mention where I was going. Honestly, I don’t even know where. All I know is that I want
to go somewhere far, where I want have to deal with ever seeing him again.

I set the pen down and exit his office. I go to the room and grab my luggage before heading
downstairs. Some starts knocking at the door. I pause and peek through the window to see who it
is, it’s Michelle.

I unlock the door and open it. “Brian said you have called. I called you back a couple of times
but you didn’t pick up.”

I sigh in relief, it was just Brian, not Matt who have answered the phone. I wasn’t in danger after
all. “I freaked out, I thought it was Matt.” I admit.

“I’m just glad you’re alright.” She gently smiles then notices my things packed.

“I’ve decided I wanted to get out of here before he comes home.” I explain.

“Would you like to stay with me?”

“Oh no, I don’t want to seem like a bother.”

“You won’t. You’re most welcome. Please, stay with me and Brian, he won’t mind either, come
on.”

I sigh softly. “Alright, but only for a few days.”

“Great, let’s get going.” Michelle helps me with my bags, taking it to the car.

After putting my stuff in the trunk, I get in the car. I buckle myself up and face out the window
to look at the house for one last time. “Goodbye.” I quietly whisper. I hold back tears, knowing
this is for the best, for my sake. I stare the houses in the neighborhood as Michelle, starts to
drive. I close my eyes and start remembering the first time I’ve seen Matt.

I was working as at GameStop at that time. He used to stop by every single day, for as long as he
could. He always ended up buying something. One day he came in with a broken Xbox and
asked for me, only to complain that it didn’t work,so I let him trade it in for another one and have
apologized. He started complimenting me and asked me out, I accepted it. I didn’t see him much
at the store since then, except when I was either on my break or when I got out of the store.
Within a few days together, he admitted to me that he didn’t like the idea of me talking to my
male co-workers, so he told me it was best to quit my job. I listened to him and did just as that.
He also asked me to move in with him and marry him. I didn’t give it much thought. I accepted
his marriage proposal and got married within a few weeks from knowing each other. Everyone
thought it was too soon for us to get married, but I didn’t listen and here I am now.

I opened my eyes and wiped off my tears. Michelle parks the car in her driveway. “Here we are.”
Michelle shuts off her car.

*Matt’s POV*

It’s around six by the time I arrive home, and didn’t smell food. “Claire!” I call out to her as I
step into the living room. “Claire!” I go into the kitchen to see an empty wine bottle and a used
wine glass on the table. “Claire! Where the fuck is my food!” I head upstairs. “Claire! Why the
fuck aren’t you answering!” I check my room and the restroom, but there’s no one there.

She must have gone out without consulting with me first. Who knows where she could have
gone, but when she comes back, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.

I head into my office and notice a written piece of paper. I grab it to take a look, it’s written in
Claire’s handwriting.

Matt,

I’m leaving. Don’t look for me, I want to stay away from you as far as possible because I’m sick
and tired that you’ll someday you might change, that you’ll treat me better. I wish I could’ve
seen the signs on who you truly are, back when there was still time for me to avoid all the pain
you’ve caused me. 1st you have stalked me for quite some time, before you even had the courage
to ask me out, 2nd you made me quit my job because you didn’t want me around other guys. They
were my coworkers. They were friends! No one was going to steal me away from you, but it
seems like you trust your false accusations than me. Hell you even beat one of them up to send
them a message! 3rd You were too much in a hurry from marrying me. We married three weeks
after we even started going out (this was partly my part, for not listening to anyone, I was too
naive). 4th when I moved in with you (about two days after we dated), you wanted to lay a hand
on me when we had our argument about me going out and stuff, but you didn’t, because you
probably feared that I would do what I just did now, leave you for good. The list just goes on and
on so I’m going to tell you the main reason I left you. Val. I know about Val and what had
happened to her. You’re a monster Matt. And I don’t want to end up like her.

I’m going to send you the divorce papers, and if you refuse to sign it, then I guess I’ll have to
report you. The damage you’ve done to my body is all the evidence I need. I’m not asking for
much from the divorce, just my freedom. You can keep everything else, your house, your money,
everything. I only took what I needed from your safe, which is a couple of hundred dollars.

If by any chance you decide to come find me and bullshit me that you will change, you’re not
going to win me back. You can fool your family, our friends, and the rest of the world, but not
me. I know the real you, and I know that you’ll never change. Besides, you do this every single
time I end up at the hospital, after you gone too far on beating me, and I foolishly forgive you
every time, wanting to believe you, because I love(d) you. But not this time Matt. You could beg,
you could try and force me to come back home, but you can’t, you’re going to have to kill me just
like you’ve killed your first wife. I hope I never see you again and you respect my wishes.

-Claire

I read the letter over and over again to confirm what it actually says. Claire left me, for good. I
crumble the letter in my hand and throw it across the wall. Maybe if I look for her now, I could
still catch her, she couldn’t have gone too far.

I didn’t see her wedding ring on my desk, so that could mean that I still have a chance on
winning her back, I just have to do enough convincing to do so. But shit, she knows about Val.
But how did she know? No one knows what really happened to her except for… Michelle! Of
course it had to be her, that little bitch. I bet that Claire is with her now.

I change directions and decide to head to Brian’s. I turn left. A dog jumps out a nowhere, a girl
around the age sixteen runs after the dog. I swerve to prevent from running them over, but
instead, I lost control. I crash into a light pole, bumped my head onto the steering wheel, losing
consciousness. The last thing I hear is a dog barking.