Blossoms

As they laced their fingers together under the drifting cherry blossom petals, their peaceful, smiling faces seemed to relax even more. She leaned back, making herself as comfortable as she could against the gnarled trunk of the old cherry tree.

Oh, how I hate him. The things he’s done. The bruises I need to cover every day. The things he’s done, the violence I have to deal with every day. Why am I here? Why am I holding hands with this monster, this sick -

He swept her up in a kiss, soft and dimly illuminated in the light of the setting sun. He pulled away with a lopsided grin, his eyes softening at the sight of her.

She was with my best friend. She was in bed with my best friend. The only reason i hit her was because she tried to get in the middle of him and I, and it was an accident anyways. Why am I with her? She’s cheated on me already, and she’ll do it again. She’ll do it -

She plucked a low hanging blossom and passed it to him with a shy look, as though this was the first time they found themselves at this tree at sunset.

A flower. Hopefully that distracts him for a while, he was always easy to distract. Probably the drinks he gets with his friends while he’s ‘working late.’ He acts as though I’m a fool, as though I don’t know what the marks on his neck really are -

“We should head back,” he said, looking at the orange clouds where the sun had just retreated below the horizon and standing up. “It’ll be dark before long.” She took his outstretched hand, pulling herself off of the ground with his help.

I can’t take this anymore, the things she says.

His grip on her hand tightened.

I can’t keep letting him do this to me.

Her jaw began to clench as they walked hand in hand down the usual path.

Tonight’s the night.

His eyes grew stormy.

Tonight has to be the night.

Her free hand shook.

The knife is under my pillow. If she comes at me I’ll be ready.

The pills are with my makeup. I can slip them in his drink.

Oh my Lord, why did this happen to us?

What happened to us?