Breaking Point

This is yet another piece I wrote for Cal's Song Inspiration Contest. This one is inspired by the song Face Down, by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The word it is off of is skene, which I believe is a type of knife.

“Lina, what’s that?” Cassidy asked, looking pointedly at Lina’s wrist as Lina tucked a piece of pale brown hair behind her ear.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Lina quickly pulled the sleeve of her shirt down, covering the large bruise on her forearm.

“Are you sure?...” Cassidy responded, but was at that moment pulled by her boyfriend into a loving embrace, earning them a reproachful glance from the history teacher, whose classroom them stood outside of.

Lina sighed. That had been close. How long could she continue to wear long sleeves during the balmy spring without people questioning her about it? But she had no other choice. Dark, splotchy bruises covered her arms, making her look like she had some rare form of the plague. The shadowy bruises across her arched cheekbones could barely be covered with even the thickest concealer, and her swollen lips were earning her odd looks from her friends. He previously perky, pretty face had turned hollow in the last few months as Lina had starved herself, trying to become what others wanted; what Eli wanted.

“I can’t believe how fat you are!”

He had shouted that at her a few weeks after they had started dating, and Lina had tearfully cut off her food supply. A day later he had come back with an apology, saying how he loved her and had just lost control. She had forgiven him, because at the time, she had though that it was something that would never occur again.

In chemistry, Lina’s head drooped forward onto her desk, fatigue washing over her. She had spent hours lying awake the night before, wincing every time she moved, pondering when it would become too much. She and Eli had gotten into a fight that night when Lina had tried to stand up for herself.

“You’re small and pathetic and ugly. Without me you’re nothing!”

His words had cut like daggers through her skin. She was left cowering like a dog under his will, his power. She was sure, though, that today he would try to make up for it. And sure enough, just as she dragged her weary feet out of the chemistry room, there he was, smiling bashfully at her with his dopy brown eyes and large, square teeth.

His words ran together as he tried to apologize as sappily as possible. His sentences were sprinkled with “I love you” and “You’re the greatest”. Lina just nodded her head, flinching when he put his arms around her and asked her to dinner.

“Sure,” she consented. “Sure.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the school, leading Lina to her car.

“I’ll see you tonight at seven. I’ll take you somewhere nice.” Lina just ducked into the driver’s seat, then sped away.

That night, as she rifled through her closet, debating what to wear, she wondered, why do I do this? Why do I put up with this?

But the answer was simple: If she didn’t, he could do much worse to her. Much, much worse. She ran her fingers over her now bare arms before grabbing a dark blue, wintery dress from its hanger. It wasn’t exactly seasonal, or completely attractive, but it would cover the marks. Lina worried that Eli would criticize her clothing choice. Ever since the time he had yelled at her about some supposedly hideous outfit she had worn, she had been careful choosing what she wore, so as not to get beaten for it.

“Your clothes are a disgrace! You look like a beggar on the streets!”

But when he pulled up in front of her house at ten past seven, he said nothing about her attire. In fact, not a word was said as they headed to the restaurant of Eli’s choosing. Dinner was almost as silent, with a few sprinkled, polite interjections, but nothing more. As Eli drove her home, Lina felt his anger building, as it almost always did after their dates.

Eli didn’t stop at Lina’s house, where she would have been safe from his wrath, because her parents were there. Instead, he drove straight to his own home. His parents were, once again, out to God-knows-where, most likely drinking the night away. Lina figured that his parents were at least part of the reason for Eli’s behavior, but she had never really looked into it.

Inside, Lina huddled in the sparsely furnished living room, knowing, from experience, that there was the smallest amount of possible weapons in there. She waited quietly while Eli paced in front of her, waiting for the moment he would explode.

“You didn’t say a thing at dinner,” he began, stopping in front of her. “It was completely embarrassing. The waiter must have thought you were mute!” His icy glare penetrated deep within her, and she shook with fright.

“I’m…. sorry,” Lina whispered.

“Sorry is not enough!” His hand lashed out, striking Lina against the jawbone. She cringed from the force that seemed to rattle her brain. “Next time, you will act like my girlfriend! You will show how much you love me!” Lina didn’t respond.

He lashed out again, his fist landing on her shoulder with a painful thud.

“Aeh!” Lina gasped, falling back onto the arm of the couch.

“You got that?” Eli screamed, shoving his boiling face within inches of hers.

“Yes, yes!” Lina cried, tears beading at the corners of her eyes.

“Right.” He grabbed her wrist with his thick, callused hands, dragging her towards the kitchen. “Sit down and have some dessert.”

“Eli, that hurts,” Lina whimpered, trying to pry his fingers off of her arm.

“Suck it up. You know I love you, so just deal with it,” he spat, shoving her into a chair.

Everyone has their breaking point. And when Lina toppled over in the chair, banging her chin on the edge of the table, it was hers. She stood, clutching the table for support, her eyes turning black with hatred. She tensed every muscle in her body, trying to keep herself from jumping on him like a wild animal right then and there.

“Eli,” she hissed, clenching her hands into fists, “I don’t love you. I never have, I never will, and I will make damn sure no other poor girl ever does. You cruel, vicious bastard! I’m done with trying to conform myself to what you want! I’m done with trying to avoid everything you throw at me! I am done with you!” With that, Lina lunged towards the counter, grabbing one of the knives from the wooden rack by the sink. Just as she whirled around, Eli’s hands were on her, one winding around her arm, the other going around her neck. Lina jabbed upwards, bringing the blade of the knife right up to the side of Eli’s neck.

“I suggest you let go of me right now.” Eli’s arms fell limp around her as he slowly backed away.

“Lina, baby, you don’t want to do anything rash, do you? Someone could get hurt,” he pleaded as Lina advanced on him.

“I suppose not. But, then again, that’s never stopped you.” Lina twirled the knife in her fingers, feeling the invigorating sense of power.

“Please, Lina, I’m sorry.”

“Of course you are.” Lina sliced the air in front of Eli’s eyes with the knife, smiling as he trembled. Transferring the knife to her left hand, Lina threw her fist forward as hard as she could, smashing it into Eli’s nose.

“You can take this as me breaking up with you.” Lina dropped the knife, turned on her heel, and walked out of the house.