Mi Amor - Chapter 1

     “No, NO! I...I love you. I didn’t mean it. I swear. I wont do it again. I just lost my temper.” Braden spat out in a rush.
     “That’s what you said last week. When you hit me when I forgot to tell you I went to the gym, remember?”
     “Look, Bree...I said I was sorry...its your fault, you made me mad...you don’t think before you piss me off.”
     Bree just shook her head with a smug look upon her face, she glanced at the mirror beside her and looked at her red cheek. “Don’t. Don’t even think about blaming your temper on me. Braden, I’m sorry, but this is the last time you will ever touch me again, we are through. I’m leaving. So, don’t call me, don’t try to find me...”
    “Bitch...you ungrateful bitch...you wont leave me...you need me.” Braden exclaimed grabbing the girls arm. “I gave you everything, and now your leaving. Leaving me.”
     “You are right. You did give me everything, your hurtful words, your slaps, your bruises, your punches...and I’m through. I’m not going to take it anymore.” Bree grabbed her purse and walked to the front door and stopped, her back to Braden when he spoke.

     “I know where your going. He doesn’t want you. He hates you. Remember? He’s just like me, he’ll use and abuse you.”
     Bree stood facing the door. “Your wrong, he’s the one who told me to leave you months ago.” The door slammed behind her.
     Walking to her car, everything seemed to finally hit her. The way he yelled at her for nothing at all, the way he would apologize after every hit, every punch. The presents she would receive after every fight.

     “This is like a fucking lifetime movie.” Bree said, allowing the tears to flow down her cheeks as she opened her car door and got into the drivers seat.
     She didn’t know how she ended up at his home. He swore he wouldn’t speak to her again. He was the one who begged her to leave. And he actually hit Braden for hitting her. And when she told him she would never leave Braden, he told her to never talk to him again. He didn’t know how else to help her. Looking down at her own fumbling fingers, she sighed, still crying over her screwed up life. How everything could get so screwed up so fast, she had no idea. Looking up at his home, she sighed. She had no where else to go. She grabbed her purse and got out of her car. She walked up to his front door. Taking a deep breath she knocked and waited patiently for the door to open.
     The door opened slowly and Bree shakily tried to smile but she couldn’t; she broke down and cried. The man took her into his arms and hugged her, because that is what she really needed.
     “What happened?”
     “AJ...I’m...I’m so sorry. I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve left. I just didn’t know where else to go...and...”
     “Bree, you know you can come here anytime....come inside.” AJ pulled her in, his arm still around her shoulders.
“I’m sorry....”
     “Don’t be sorry sweetie, your in love....or were in love. Sometimes it can blind the hell out of you.”

     Bree nodded at his words as they rounded the corner. Bree looked up and smiled when she saw AJ’s best friend, and a good friend of hers sitting on the sofa. “Hey Bree, are you ok?”Brian asked standing up quickly.
     “Well, it looks like Braden has been using Bree as a punching bag again.” AJ said, moving her blonde hair away from her cheek so he could look at the already forming bruise.
     “Let me get some ice.” Brian said quickly as he walked to the kitchen.
     “Are you going to be ok?” AJ asked sitting her on the sofa.
Bree shrugged. “I don’t know. I was so stupid AJ. How could I have stayed there? How could I be so fucking DUMB!?”
     “Bree, calm down, the good thing is that you got out now.” AJ smiled friendly at Brian when Brian handed him a ice pack. AJ gently put the pack to her cheek.
     “I should’ve got out when you told me to three months ago.”

     Brian nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry about it now, what I want to know is, what his excuse is for hitting you this time.”
     “I asked him why he lied to me about losing his job...and he hit me.”
     “Stupid bastard.” Brian mumbled, AJ nodded in agreement.
     “I just grabbed my purse, I didn’t get any clothes or anything, I think I have enough money to get a room...”
     “Hell no, your going to stay here. And I will go over to get your things right now, Brian will come with me...” AJ paused and smiled at Brian. “Right?”
     “Oh yeah...sure.” Brian nodded.
     AJ stood and grabbed his keys off of the coffee table. “Please AJ, don’t try to fight with him.” Bree said holding his hand.
     AJ winked and kissed the back of her hand. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back in a half hour. At the most.”
     As the two men reached the front door, Bree’s voice made them turn around. “Thank you guys, a lot.”