Him

Mary Ramsey lay in her bed, listening to the thump, thump, thump, of the falling rain. All she wanted was to sleep, but the rain would not allow her to drift into a pleasant slumber. It was in her dreams that she found solitude, and redemption, things she could never achieve in reality. Yet constantly sleep evaded her. It would drift away like the last note of a song, far out of her grasp. She closed her blue eyes, and tried to drift away, but a knock came on the door and her eyes flew open.

“Mama?” the sweet voice made her head turn towards the door. There her daughter stood, her red hair pilled on top of her head.

“Mama, I am going out for a while. I have to go call on Sarah Turner; she leaves for college soon you see. I won’t be gone long.”

Sarah Turner. The name seemed familiar, but very distant.  Mary looked up at her daughter; she did not want her to leave. She was her sole comfort these days, her and her music.

“William will be by shortly for your examination, so you will not be alone long, and Gerald is downstairs if you need anything.”

Mary squeezed her eyes shut. HE was coming, oh no. How could she tell her daughter how much pain the man put her through? Mary refused to call him by his name, in person or in her mind. There he was called “Him.” A raspy breath escaped her lips. She was terrified of Him. She did not like what He did to her, but no one knew. Not even her beautiful daughter. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Ramona still standing there. Ramona bent down and kissed her on the head.

“I love you Mama, I will be back soon.” And at that, Mary was left alone.

The rain had started to fall harder when the doorbell rang. Mary could hear the distant voices below, and hoped they would stay there, but they didn’t. Ramona had said He would come, and so he did. The knock on the door came, and He entered. He was tall, and dark, with eyes to match. How she hated those eyes. They had no warmth and were dark pools of contempt.  He smiled at her.

What an evil look.

Chills of loathing and deep fear rushed over her skin.

“Hello Mrs. Ramsey” He said in spiteful tone. Oh how could Ramona be engaged to him?  “How are you feeling today?”

She looked away; she did not want to see his face. Oh how she longed for George to take her away from Him. He was not digging in his black bag, and Mary dug her fingers into her bedding. She hated Him! Oh how she hated Him! And no one knew, no one could save her from this man. Just like she could not save Jeremy. Oh dear, sweet little boy. He would have been a good man. She had failed him as a mother. Failed to keep him alive and safe. The guilt of his death had over taken her, consumed her, till there was nothing left but darkness. She had felt the loss of her child deep in her very womb and that is why she had to endure these examinations in private. That is why this man touched her and hurt her. Her depression had overtaken her senses of reality and truth, and she let herself fail not only one child but also the one that was left alive, Ramona.  Oh her dear Mony. The one who helped her, and kept her safe. She was far away now, and there was only Him.

He had pulled out his long, silver instrument. It made odd sounds when he turned it on, and she did not like what it made her feel. He laughed at her when she cringed away from his touch. The instrument was moving and hurting her she wanted to cry, and rip her hair out. She wanted to rip His hair out. Mary reached up and grabbed fists full of his dark hair, yanking it out by the root. He screamed in pain and backed away. The instrument was no longer there.

“So you want to fight do you?”

Oh no, she had made him angry, now he was going to hurt her. She jumped off the bed, trying to get to the door, but He blocked it. He placed his big hand over her mouth, pushing her screams back inside. He forced her to the bed, as she grabbed at his hair again. She could hear the rain falling faster on the roof, as a strike of lightning illuminated the room. 

He was forcing himself on her, and she could not stand it one more moment. She heard the front door close and light footsteps were coming up the stairs to rescue her. This was her chance, to show whomever it was, what a snake He was. Mary bit down on his hand, and his rage grew. Soon colors and shapes were blending into one, he was groping for the silver instrument, and then there was nothing but red. A scream had escaped pass her lips and the door flew open. There her hero stood, her daughter, her friend. She had to save Mony from this man, and she had done it. Her last motherly act was to show her daughter what He really looked like. Mary looked into the hazel eyes that she so loved and they blended with the red that was now so bright. Hazel, brown, red, and green swirling together and then everything was dark