Killer Yarns

His Eyes

It all started the day he came home late from work saying he had stopped at the doctor to have him look at his sore back.  “You know, it just wasn’t going away so I thought I should have him look at it” he said.

“Oh, what did he say?”  She asked.  Mike moved toward her so quickly she didn’t have time to react.  One hand closed around her neck, the back of the other hit her across her face. Her head snapped to the side and he pushed his thumb into her neck. She couldn’t breathe.  She grabbed at his hand but couldn’t get her fingers between his hand and her neck.  She wrapped her fingers around his wrist and tried to pull his hand away but he was too strong. 

“That’s none of your business!” he yelled, so close to her now that little drops of spit were flying into her face.  His breath smelled horrible, like death and he was squinting as if the sun was in his eyes.  “Don’t you ever question me.”  She couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe and she was starting to see black dots around the edges of her vision.  She dug her nails into his skin breaking the skin on his wrist. Small crimson trails started running down his arm. He instantly let her go and she fell to the floor.  He grabbed his keys off of the counter and slammed out the door.

She was stunned and left wondering what had just happened and just what she was supposed to do about it.  What just happened?  What? I don’t understand.  He has never even yelled at me before. It’s been over ten years; he is not a violent man.  I know he’s not.  He’s a computer geek for God’s sake. What am I supposed to do now? Should I leave? Should I be afraid he will come back and it will get worse.  Christ!  I have always said I wouldn’t stay with a man who hit me but this is different. Isn’t it?   And what was up with his eyes?  Why did they look so odd?  She continued to sit there staring after him with one hand holding her aching, burning neck for a long time.  Why did this happen?  She was contemplating her next move when someone began knocking on her front door.

She hoped it was Mike coming to apologize but then wondered why he would knock.  Maybe he is trying not to scare you.  She opened the door to see a UPS driver delivering a package. She was so disappointed it wasn’t Mike she actually felt tears start to pool at the corners of her eyes.

“Hello, you’ll need to sign for this” he said.  Hey are you alright?”

Jessica realized she must look like Hell.  She still had her hand on her neck and her face felt white hot where Mike had hit her.  She was talking before she even knew what she was going to say. “Yes, yes I am fine thanks” she said. “I was just feeling a little light headed and I fell before I could get to a chair. No harm done really”. 

After signing for the package and assuring the man she was fine Jessica was alone again. Great she thought now I’m lying for him.  Is this how it starts? She wanted to call Mike but she didn’t.  Instead she sat on the sofa thinking about what had happened trying to remember every detail.  Maybe I did do something to make him mad.  Oh stop it.  He shouldn’t have hurt you and you know it. He just exploded.  You looked right into his eyes and… They were yellow not green like they were supposed to be but yellow!  Okay girl, now you’re reaching, it isn’t possible for a person’s eyes to go from green to yellow. 

She heard his keys jangle against the door and the dead bolt slide open.  He walked in with his head down.  “I’m sorry”, he said in a whisper. “Ah Jess I am so sorry.  I don’t know what happened to me.  I would never hurt you I swear I wouldn’t.”  His voice cracked on the last sentence as he started to cry. 

Jessica stood facing him from across the room.  She wasn’t sure what she should do.  She wanted to go to him but would he try to hurt her again?

“Please forgive me Jess, please.” He was sobbing now. She felt her heart breaking at the sound.

“Of course I do.”  She walked over put her hands on his shoulders and prayed she was right. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose. What happened?  Please tell me.  Please look at me and tell me what happened.  I need to understand.”

Mike lifted his head and began to talk but Jessica didn’t hear him.  She was staring into his eyes and trying to remember to breathe.

His eyes were definitely yellow.

……To Be Continued

Join me next Friday morning for the next installment of Deadly Medicine.

Dawnda Schaefer

http://www.killeryarns.com/