Tangled Love novel Chapter 1

Do you ever feel yourself float away from your physical body in order to protect yourself?

Do you ever experience pain so fresh, it feels like your entire body is ignited in flames?

Do you ever sit back and question why? Why me?

A slap, then a punch, followed by a kick.

"Next time, you do as I tell you. No questions asked!" Trevor hisses at me through clenched teeth. His pale face is turning bright red, seething with anger. I nod furiously, pushing my petite frame as far up against the wall as I can. My hands physically shake, trembling from the fear overtaking me.

Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with him Emily. . . Eye contact is seen as a challenge.

I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing I'd remembered to wash the dishes left over from last night. I know it isn't a reason for him to hurt me but in Trevors eyes, it's justified.

His hand wraps itself in the strands of my hair and he pulls my head backwards, my scalp throbbing.

"Please stop! You don't have to do this!" I yell, pleading with him. My screams of agony fall upon deaf ears so I give up and lie there emotionlessly, letting him torture me like his little rag doll.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror and sigh, hastily wiping the tears away from my eyes. I refuse to cry. . . That's exactly what he wants. He wants me to suffer and I'll never give him the satisfaction of knowing I already am.

A big clump of my dark brown hair is missing, the scalp throbbing painfully where he'd ripped it out. My finger trail down my cheek under my eye where the stinging is now turning into a tender blue bruise.

Ten years without the man I love and adore.

I shuffle towards my bed, sitting down on the edge of it. I lift the picture up to my lips, placing a gentle kiss over the glass. It feels cool against my lips and I close my eyes, taking slow breaths. I allow the oxygen to fill my lungs and calm my thoughts.

"Night night, sleep tight my little princess." Dad would say every single night, tucking me up tightly before leaving the room and closing the door over slightly.

He knew I didn't like the dark.

"Night night Daddy," I whisper, clutching the picture frame tightly to my chest.