Haunting Memories

         Becky walked through the first floor hallway of her parent’s townhouse looking for them. She could feel the pounding of her heart and how winded she was. Becky knew Ivan wasn’t far behind her. She’d barely escaped the house they shared since they married. He’d kept her in it, making it impossible for her to leave the house for any reason. He’d taken her phone and the ability to use the internet with him every time he left the house. If she left the house and he found out about it, she’d end up crying in the bathroom with the first aid kit for solace.

         Now she searched the rooms of the townhouse Ivan bought for her parents as a thank you for the business as a wedding present. Her father retired not long after that and Ivan didn’t have a use for her anymore since he got what he wanted. Becky wasn’t sure the world even knew she existed since their wedding was that low key. He’s been seen at social events with his assistant on his arm, not her. Ivan brought no one home with him either, and he stayed away for days on end. Becky wasn’t a fool. His assistant was nothing more than his mistress.

         So here she was with tears streaming down her face and she thought her wrist was broken, too. But instead of going to the hospital, she’d come in search of her parents. The people she could rely on. Her family. Ivan swore to her before she left that he’d never let her go and there was nowhere to hide from him. No where would be safe from his wrath. She’d learned her lesson quickly.

         Finally, she found her parents, like always, sitting by the pool sipping cocktails and enjoying their retirement. Only, they weren’t alone. Ivan was there. Fear raced up her spine. They were chatting with him as if nothing was wrong, laughing with him. Then her father saw her, and his face clouded over in anger. He stood up from his chair and all eyes were on her.

         “Where have you been, Rebecca? We thought you’d abandoned Ivan and run off with some lowlife.” Her father moved quickly to block Becky from her mother and Ivan. He’d never call her Becky because that wasn’t the name, he gave her. It was an insult to his grandmother’s memory.

         “What do you mean, I abandon him? He was gone for a week, and he left me with no money, car, phone, or food. Then he returns suddenly in a fury, and he attacked me.” Becky couldn’t believe what her father was saying. Ivan must have been here for a while, filling their heads with lies about her. Making her out to be the villain.

         “I don’t believe you. He’s been nothing but generous to us. You’re lying to gain sympathy. There’s nothing wrong with you.” Her father scoffed at her and pressed her back. Denying her the ability to confront her husband and his abuse of her.

         “Can’t you see the bruises and look at my wrist? I think it’s broken.” Her head hurt like crazy, and it was hard for Becky to stand on her feet or keep her vision from blurring.

         “You were always a clumsy girl. It’s not broken, get a thicker skin. He’s the saviour of this family. Look at everything he’s given us.” Her father practically danced while he praised Ivan and his generosity, while in the next breath, he belittled his daughter’s pain and injuries.

         “Mom, please make him see reason. Ivan is a monster. He’s threatened to kill me. I can’t stay with him.” Becky begged her mother to see reason and make her father see it, too. This was insane. These people were supposed to love her unconditionally. But here they were all but worshiping the ground Ivan walked on.

         “What a horrid thing to say. You married him for better or worse. He’s yours. You really must do better than that. We won’t risk what we have because you foolishly think marrying him was a mistake. Stop the lies and enjoy the life he’s given you.”

         “What life? He’s threatened to kill me. Ask him. He’s standing right there, and he’s not denied anything I’ve said.”

         “Why should he deny what’s clearly a lie? I don’t understand why you’re trying to ruin everyone’s lives with this hysterical drama. Leave and never come back. I don’t want to see your face.” Her mother demanded finally. She never once left her chair. Her mother relied on her father to remove her from the house.

         “Go home and think about what you tried to do today. Pray that Ivan doesn’t throw you aside for someone else. Don’t come back if you’re dead set on ruining mine and your mother’s way of life. You’re such a selfish girl.”

         As her father forcefully pushed away Becky from her parents, she heard Ivan say one last thing to her. “You can’t run from me. You’re mine. I will find you wherever you hide, and I will get my pound of flesh, love. I own you and everyone you love.”

         With tears staining her face, Becky wandered the streets for what felt like hours. Until finally she found herself stopped by a police officer. Events blurred for her, and she wasn’t sure how the events unfolded. But Becky ended up in an emergency ward where her injuries were dealt with. She talked to so many people and there were too many questions. Everything became muddled for her. She later learned she’d hit her head and suffered a concussion along with the broken wrist. One thing she maintained was that Ivan, her husband, did this to her and she didn’t have any support from friends or family.

         By the next afternoon, with the help Becky received from a social worker, she was in a women’s shelter under an assumed name. The police were helping her with a restraining order against her husband. The supports they gave her helped her speed up divorce court proceedings. With that started, she lay in a strange bed among strangers, feeling more alone than she ever had. Her friends and family were gone. Without a job, Helena didn’t have a way to survive. This was her darkest moment, or so she believed.

         Ivan contested the divorce, of course. When the courts finally heard the case, it was bad for her. Her parents were witnesses to Ivan. She gained nothing but her freedom from him. He took everything from her. Becky’s only consolation was to see her mother’s face when her lawyer read out the injuries, she’d sustained from the hospital report.

         During the hearing, Becky’s mother gave an emotional response to Ivan. “Ivan is such a good boy and so hardworking. He must have come home to find her sleeping around like the ungrateful wretch she is. Ivan’s so generous and sweet it’s the only thing I will believe.” Becky would never forgive her mother. Her mother sat there swinging her foot to show off her new expensive shoes, while Becky sat there watching in her secondhand department store outfit. Her mother’s shoes and purse cost more than Becky’s entire wardrobe did now, and her mother only cared what she took away from this courtroom and not what happened to her only daughter.

Becky just wanted to curl up in a dark corner and cry until she died at this point.

         They never spoke again to Becky. In fact, she left the city after that. She worked for a while before she started night school courses and later veterinary school. Something her father would never allow and to spite him. She went into a specialty. Big animals. That meant she looked after horses, cows, and elephants.

         But that was years ago now. She struggled to stay hidden from Ivan. Every day, it forced her to look over her shoulder and make sure he wasn’t hiding in a shadow somewhere close by. She’d fought to keep the restraining order in place for this long. He’d broken it several times over the last five years.

         Now she struggled to hide in this small town. She’d opened a veterinary practice a year ago here. People were getting used to her being around. Her practice was thriving, but she wasn’t.

         She was alone and fearful for this state to change. Becky didn’t want to endanger a man’s life when Ivan or one of his goons was bound to show up to harass her. She loved this little town. Ivan loved his arm candy, so why couldn’t he stay happy with that arm candy? Becky would never understand his obsession with her.

         That’s when her alarm clock went off and she came back to consciousness. Lying in her bed in the small home she rented. Groaning softly, her dream caught up to the reality. It was five years later, almost six years since that horrible night. Her still wrist ached from where a goat kicked her yesterday. That pain must have triggered the memory and that brought back the nightmare.

         That and hoping today’s appointments would pay more than the bills for the office. At this rate, she’ll be sleeping at the office just to save money to stay. It was hard enough living in the house with no heating because she couldn’t afford the oil to heat the house.

         Tired as she was, Becky needed to start her day early. She needed to do the rounds of the farms where her patient’s lived. Before that, she needed to make time to load her vehicle with the supplies and equipment she’d need. She hated the trips to some farms. Often, Becky was forced to deal with large, dominate men. Men who didn’t take her news of their livestock’s health well. She could understand why they weren’t happy about it. The medical bill costs for the livestock could make or break it for the farm’s year or even several if it forced them to lose the animal.

It didn’t make sense to fear men and yet, like, she still needed one around that could help her with more than just business. Becky wanted a friend, helper, and, well, a partner in life. She wanted a lover or soulmate. It often exhausted Becky from the effort it took to maintain this business and the house. It all fell on the fact that she just wasn’t built to handle so much because she was too slender and short.

         She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand and picked up the bottle of painkillers on the nightstand. This day must start, or she’d have to close up shop and leave town.