A Slap To Reality

Her cheek was bright red, still throbbing with pain as she sat on the bathroom floor, gasping for breath, her whole body shuddering with each inhale. Hot tears trickled down her face as she stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything that had happened in the last few minutes.

Her whole life seemed to have come to a standstill in that moment. Had she been fantasizing about the past ten years? Or was all of this real? No matter how much she thought, she had no answer to that question. All she could do was hope this was a bad dream that would soon fade away.

It had been a decade of marriage, a decade of living together, and this was the first time she was experiencing something like this. Was it a reality check? Was their relationship just another normal one, flawed and complicated, like everyone else’s?

What happened to that heartwarming connection she had always felt between them? The kind of love that seemed like it would never fade?

The evening had started like any other. They had sat on the bed with the kids, chatting, while he enjoyed his weekend drink, the soft rhythm of music in the background.

But then a casual conversation boiled into an argument, turning bitter, the alcohol doing its damage. The blame game started—parenting decisions, life choices, both of them lashing out, until the argument took on a life of its own.

When they realized the children had sensed the tension, they quickly composed themselves, joking with the kids, tucking them in, pretending the air wasn’t thick with anger.

Once the kids were asleep, they resumed the fight. That’s when he blurted it out—“You’ve seldom satisfied me over the years.”

Her heart dropped. This hit her like a thunderbolt. Is that all? 

For everything they had done together, for all the years she had given him, this was how it was measured? Is this what I truly deserve?

She was furious, hurt, and—above all—betrayed. She defended herself, but it only worsened. His words hung in the air, heavy with bitterness.

How could he so easily accuse her, without thought, without understanding? How could he get away with it?

She had always despised the alcohol-induced rage. People had no idea what it was like to deal with someone in that state. Every word, every look, every move could set them off—an emotional landmine, always waiting to explode.

But this was different. This was real. This wasn’t just a drunken outburst. This felt like something deeper—something broken inside him.

“Good Lord, what have I gotten myself into?” she thought as tears streamed down her face, more out of fear than anything else.

Yet, as much as it hurt, she wasn’t going to be a passive victim. Years of emotional exposure had taught her something. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and began defending her side with all the clarity she could muster.

But then came the 'SMACK' !!!

She looked up at him, standing over her, chest heaving, eyes burning with rage. “That’s for what you dared to utter?” he sneered, before hitting her again.

The shock was overwhelming. Her face was a shield against the blows, but it didn’t matter. His hatred was palpable—this wasn’t the man she had loved. This wasn’t the man she had built a life with.

This was a stranger, someone cruel, merciless, and angry.

She couldn’t make sense of it. “What happened to him?” she thought, as her body trembled, and the reality of what was happening began to settle in.

But she tried to keep it together. She couldn’t let the children hear, couldn’t let them wake up to this nightmare that would scar them for life. She somehow managed to break free from his grasp, escaping into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

Sobbing uncontrollably, feeling terribly humiliated, she realized—this was the first time a man had ever raised a hand to her. Not even her father, whom she had respected deeply, had ever done such a thing. And now, here she was, faced with the brutal reality that the man she had trusted and loved had turned into someone unrecognizable.

Was this the man she had fallen in love with? Was this the man she had married? Was this the man who had fathered her children?

Her mind spun, desperate for answers, but none came.

She thought of the life they’d shared—the laughter, the promises, the dreams—and she wondered if that had all been a lie. Had it really been that perfect? Or was it all a façade she had built around herself?

She clung to the hope that maybe—just maybe—this was the alcohol talking. Maybe when he sobered up, he’d regret everything. But even as she told herself that, a creeping fear gnawed at her.

What if this wasn’t the alcohol? What if this was who he really was?

Her heart ached with the crushing weight of those possibilities.

What now? What would happen after this? Could she ever love him the same way again? Could she forget this?

Would things ever go back to normal?

Or was this the end?

Her thoughts raced—questions without answers. She wanted to believe it was a temporary breakdown, that the man she had married would return. But deep down, something told her this was a turning point, one that might never be undone.

It had all been so perfect before. So perfect, until it wasn’t.

Her tears slowly dried, and she felt something stir within her, a small flicker of strength. She wasn’t helpless. She wasn’t weak.

But she couldn't help thinking,

'What would tomorrow bring?'

Only time would have an answer to that.

In life, what goes around, comes around.

And how painfully true is this!!!

I just hope for good times to come around some day soon, healing the wounds of yesterday.

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻