The weather is quite clement, it’s not too hot nor is
it too cold. Ebony sits on the back balcony soaking up
the warm rays of sunshine that descend upon her. She
raises her pale face to the clear sky above and inhales deeply,
causing the neighbours freshly cut grass to tickle her nostrils.
Brax and Lehanna are running around the backyard playing
Zombie Tag, a game Brax made up himself. Their delightful
little screams and playful banter are music to her ears and it’s
blissfully over-riding the echoes of her and Brad’s argument last
night. He came home just before midnight heavily intoxicated
and demanded more money. When she gently refused and
told him she had no more to give, he burnt up like a heated
butcher’s knife. “Bullshit! You have money hidden all over this
house, so where is it?” he fumed.
“I don’t have any more just so you can drink it down the
drain. We have bills due and—”
“Bills?” he snapped, cutting her off short. “You seem to
have them every bloody week! I’m sure they can wait one more
week, right? Besides, it’s the least you can do considering I put
up with you all the time.”
Ebony flinched as if his harsh words slapped her in the face.
“Put up with me? You have to be home to do that and
you barely are these days! I’m sorry, but I can’t help you again
tonight. Now if you don’t mind, I am tired and would like to
get some sleep.”
Brad inhaled so hard and fast he almost snorted. “You are nothing but a selfish bitch, Ebony. Go back to what you’re
good at and that’s being a loner with no friends. You my love,
are pathetic.”
Ebony held her hurt eyes on his burning gaze. “If that is
what you think of me Brad, fine. Don’t come back here until
you are sober and well and truly clear headed,” she said quietly.
She fixed herself under the covers and turned away from him.
She felt his lingering presence for a few moments before she
finally heard his heavy footsteps fading down the hall. The front
door slammed so hard it not only shook every window pane
in her tiny house but also rattled her heart.
•
Brad never used to be hot headed and hard hearted as he is now.
They met six years ago at a friend’s barbecue and as soon as
they locked eyes, fireworks set off between them. He flew in,
his small green eyes full of pleasure and introduced himself.
“Hey, I’m Brad,” he said. “I couldn’t help notice you and
couldn’t resist coming over and saying hi.”
“Hi, I’m Ebony. It’s nice to meet you,” she said quietly.
He tilted his head. “You’re a shy girl, aren’t you?”
“Yes, kind of. How did you guess?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the innocence reflecting from
your eyes.”
Ebonies cheeks heated up.
Brad chuckled. “That’s cute. Have you been in Springbrook
long? I haven’t seen you around town before.”
“I’ve been here two years. How about you?”
“I was born and raised here. Hey, are you here with anyone?”
Ebony nodded. “Yes, I’m here with Taya and Ray. I think
she knows your friend Daniel?”
“Ray does, yes. But what I meant is, are you here with a boyfriend?” “Oh no, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Great! Listen, I have to head off. Do you want to catch
up for a coffee sometime? I would really like to finish our
conversation.”
Ebony glanced down at her toes, her cheek burning red.
Should she? She asked herself. He is coming across too confi-
dent and she’s worried it might clash with her shyness.
“Well?” he asked, hopeful.
Ebony glanced up at him. “Sure, why not?”
They traded numbers and Brad thanked her, cast her a
gracious smile and walked away, leaving Ebony confused yet
curious.
They became inseparable soon after and it didn’t take her
long to fall for his sweet charms and gracious smile. Every
weekend, he escorted her to dinner, the cinema and went to the
trouble of setting up romantic picnics for her. He never failed to
have a gift for her and over time she accumulated many pieces
of jewellery, some being hand-made, love quote books, choco-
lates, flowers and lavender soaps. He treated Ebony like royalty
and she thanked her lucky stars every night for her blessings.
Taya, Ebonies best friend, was thrilled for her happiness
and her heart burst with joy every time she saw Ebony and
Brad together. Even though Taya was ecstatic for her friend, she
was slightly envious and wished her partner Ray would shower
her with the same kind of love and affection Brad poured into
Ebony. Ebony and Taya have been friends for eight years now,
they are more like sisters. A mutual friend introduced them
and when Ebony had nowhere to go Taya gladly took her in
under her wing. Their friendship rapidly blossomed and they
found fun in partying every weekend like it was a new religion.
Even though Ebony was seventeen at the time, Taya had
the right contacts who snuck
Ebony into the clubs underage. If they weren’t out partying, they were mucking around at the gym and walking
their neighbourhood late at night scaring poor innocent peo-
ple in their homes. Fun was something they never lacked and
Ebony often felt guilty with some of the mischief they got into
while Taya never seemed to care.
However, as soon as Ebony and Brad became serious, he
distracted her with his full attention and before she knew it,
he had well and truly steered her away from the life and free-
dom she had.
After three months, Brad suggested they move in together
and Ebony reluctantly agreed. They moved in with Brad’s
mother until something more permanent came up. Ebony’s
life dramatically changed and rather quickly. Before Ebony
knew what was happening, she struggled to make plans with
Taya. Brad couldn’t stand the thought of Ebony not being
around him and Ebony believed it was the strength of love he
has for her. He demanded every inch of attention and once
they moved out of Gloria’s house and into their own, it only
got worse. By then, Ebony was in too deep.
•
While she consumes all her time at home by keeping the house
clean to his standards, raises the children on her own, supports
them all physically and financially, works five nights a week
and upholds all the responsibilities that is thrown their way,
Brad is always out with his friends drinking, fishing and doing
whatever else that pleases him. The very few times a week
when he chooses to stay home for more than just a couple of
hours, he tends to lock himself away in the bedroom and only
makes his presence well known when he’s throwing criticism
at her or the children.
She and Brad have broken up a couple of times over their
six year relationship but their break-ups never last more than a week. Brad always knew how to play with her heart strings
and knew exactly what words to say to draw her back in. So
far, he has succeeded every time. However, she does hope they
will get their old love back one day. If it existed once, surely it
can exist again.
•
It has now been twelve hours since Ebony last seen or heard
from him and it worries her and relieves her. She checks the
time on her phone and becomes conscious of how long she
has been brooding over Brad and her past. She stands up with
a long stretch and absorbs the sun’s rays as if it will give her
the strength she needs. “Kids, come in for lunch now, please,”
she calls. She makes them their favourite peanut butter sand-
wiches with a glass of orange juice and settles them in the
lounge room to watch a movie.
She makes herself a cup of coffee and relaxes in the front
room to catch up on some reading but the words are a blur and
the harder she tries concentrating, the more her eyes wander off
the pages. Ebony gives up and places her book on the side table
next to her untouched coffee. She sucks in a shallow breath and
slowly lifts the front of her tee-shirt. Her bruised right rib is
now a nightmarish black with deep red and purple splotches
around the outer edges. She gently traces her forefinger along
the tender sides of her rib and gasps as sharp pain sets in. She
drops her shirt in shame and blinks away tears. It is a painful
reminder of who is in charge and a harsh reminder to never
speak out of turn even if she is defending her own honour.
She and Brad do love each other under the cracked sur-
face, but they go the extra lengths to hurt one another. Every
day she wonders how much more she can take and if the love for Brad is worth not fighting for freedom.

© Emily Mcconville