Page 2 of Rewind

“My grandmother left this house to me and I want you out of it.”

He shrugged with a chuckled. “You added my name to the deed, you dumb bitch. Like I said, I’m not going anywhere.”

Candace’s shrill giggle punctuated the total disregard either of them had for her as a human being. This was clearly a joke to the both of them.

This anger burning inside Amina’s chest finally gave her the courage to say what she’d been holding on to for longer than she cared to remember. “What kind of man are you?”

He swiveled his head in her direction with a cutting glare? “The fuck did you say? You need to watch your fucking mouth.”

“Or what? You’re going to hit me? You may be stronger than me, but you’ll always be a weak mama’s boy who takes advantageof women because you’re not man enough to stand on your own two feet. You are such a loser and I don’t understand what I ever saw in you!” Amina screamed at him with a force that made her chest rumble.

Besides the blaring of the television, no sound was made. Mark’s mouth fell open, clearly surprised Amina had the courage to speak up to him.

The silence stretched as Amina and Mark locked eyes, but with each passing second, she realized the danger she’d put herself in. His fists clenched and his lips curled into a snarl.

“Damn, you gonna let her talk to you like that?” Candace instigated.

“Bitch, you clearly forgot who I am!” Mark roared as he jumped off the bed.

With adrenaline coursing through her body, Amina sped out the room and bounded down the stairs with Mark on her heels.

She’d never spoken to him like that before and though she didn’t regret it, she realized it would cost her if she didn’t get away. Not only did she dare to stand up for herself, she did it in front of Candace whom she knew he had a crush on from the moment they met.

Just as she made it to the front door, Mark grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back with so much force, she stumbled to the floor.

Not giving Amina a chance to crawl away, Mark pounced on top of her and swiftly issued a stinging back backhand. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you were talking to but I will fucking kill you if you ever buck up to me again.”

Smack!

The second slap was delivered with so much force, stars danced before her eyes. The metallic taste of blood coated the inside of her mouth.

She pushed his shoulders to get him off of her but he wouldn’t budge.

“Oh? You trying to fight back? What the fuck did I just stay?”

He circled her throat with his hands and squeezed with what seemed to be every bit of his strength.

Amina opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. Her lungs burned from lack of oxygen and dark dots danced before her eyes.

Was this the end?

She was briefly tempted to give in to the sweet embrace of death’s arms where she’d no longer feel the constant pain of living. The daily agony, the stress, the heartache. When it was all over, she’d no longer be in despair. But just as quickly as that thought crossed her mind, a spark from deep within ignited, awakening her will to fight.

She clawed at the hands wrapped tightly around her neck.

He released his grip but a heavy fist that had the impact of a brick connected with her nose, followed by a sickening crunch. “Bitch, who the fuck do you think you are? You think you’re tough now?” demanded the enraged demon straddling her with the seeming intent to kill.

Mark’s face twisted into an angry caricature of itself and he bore his teeth, like a rabid beast, giving him every bit the appearance of something evil.

Pain splintered throughout her entire body and the pull of darkness grew stronger.

Yes, she was certain this would be the day she’d die.

One would think by the anger radiating from her attacker that they were the aggrieved party. Probably in his twisted mind he was, but Amina was simply a convenient punching bag for whenever he needed to vent some of his many frustrations in life, either real or imaginary.

Maybe this was her fault for accepting this for so long and not leaving the first time he put his hands on her. How had this escalated to this point? What happened to the kind man who would give her sweet compliments and put a smile on her face? How had the disrespect become so normalized that he thought nothing of sleeping with her cousin in their bed and not giving a single damn.

When did her Prince Charming turn into a monster?

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