CHAPTER 5: BEYOND REDEMPTION

MARIE Morning sickness hit me like a car on speed, pulling me out of a restless sleep. The dull ache in my stomach became a rolling nausea that I couldn't ignore. I groaned and pushed myself out of bed, my hands instinctively resting on my abdomen. The reality of my pregnancy was setting in more with each passing day, and this morning was no exception. In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to shake off the sleepiness that clung to me. The mirror reflected a woman beginning to show the subtle signs of her condition—slightly fuller cheeks, a softness in the eyes that wasn't there before. My skin was a bit paler than usual, and my hair, though still shiny and black, seemed less lively. I stripped off my nightgown, wincing at the discomfort in my breasts, and stepped into the shower. The warm water poured over me, soothing my tense muscles. I closed my eyes; it was a cruel twist of fate to find out I was pregnant after filing for divorce, but I was determined to keep this child away from the mess that was now my life. After my bath, I dressed in a loose-fitting dress. I ran a brush through my damp hair, letting it dry naturally. I prepared a simple breakfast of yogurt and toast in the kitchen, skipping the cheese because the smell made my stomach churn. I sat down at the small dining table, trying to eat slowly, but the nausea was relentless. I managed a few bites before pushing the plate away, feeling too sick to continue. I took my prenatal vitamins as my doctor prescribed, washed them with a sip of water, and decided to lie down for a bit. The moment I closed my eyes, I was out, the exhaustion of early pregnancy pulling me under. It felt like only minutes had passed when a sharp knock on the door awakened me. I blinked, disoriented for a moment, before the sound came again, louder this time. Throwing off the covers, I stumbled out of bed and headed to the door, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. I had no idea who could visit me so early in the morning, but my instincts told me it wasn't good. When I opened the door, I saw Charlie—my best friend standing there, looking like he had just come out of a brawl. His left eye was swollen shut, the skin around it turning an ugly shade of purple, and there was a cut on his lip that had dried blood crusted around it. His usually neat hair was messy, and his shirt was wrinkled as if he had thrown it on quickly. "Charlie!" I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. "What the hell happened to you?" He tried to smile, but it was a grimace. "It's nothing, just a little disagreement with Damian." "Damian did this to you?" My voice shook with disbelief and anger as I reached out to touch his bruised cheek, but I pulled back at the last second, afraid of causing him more pain. Charlie nodded, his expression hardening. "I went to your house to help pack your things, and Damian didn't take it too seriously. He attacked me before I could even explain why I was there." I felt a cold wave of fury wash over me. Damian had always been cold, calculating, and distant, but violence? This was a side of him I had never seen before. The man I married had been capable of manipulating me for his ends but to resort to physical assault? It made me sick to my stomach. "I'm so sorry, Charlie," I whispered, my eyes filling with tears that I quickly blinked away. "I had no idea he would do something like this." Charlie waved his hand dismissively, but I could see the pain on his face. "It's not your fault, Marie. I just wanted to help you, but Damian has lost whatever sanity he had left." "I can't believe this," I muttered, shaking my head as I stepped aside to let him in. He moved slowly, every step seeming to cause him pain. I closed the door behind him. This was all my fault. If I hadn't married Damian or gotten entangled with him, none of this would have happened. Charlie sat down on the edge of my bed, wincing slightly as he did. His clothes were rumpled, the white shirt stained with what looked like coffee, and his jeans were scuffed as if he had been dragged across the pavement. I wanted to help, to do something to ease his pain, but I felt so helpless. "Let me get you some ice for that eye," I said, trembling. I headed to the small fridge in the corner of the room, hoping I had something cold to use. But as I opened the door, I realized I hadn't stocked it properly. There was no ice, no cold compress, nothing that could help with a swollen eye. "Damn it," I cursed under my breath, feeling more useless by the second. The only thing in the fridge that was remotely cold was a package of frozen turkey. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing. I grabbed the turkey and returned to Charlie, leaning back against the headboard, his eyes closed as if trying to block out the pain. "I'm sorry," I said softly, handing him the cold package. "This is all I have." He cracked one eye open and gave me a lopsided grin. "Frozen turkey? Really?" "It's all I could find," I admitted, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "I know it's ridiculous, but it might help." Charlie chuckled, though it was a strained sound. "Thanks, Marie. I appreciate it." He placed the turkey against his swollen eye, wincing at the cold. I sat beside him, and we both remained silent, lost in our thoughts. I wanted to apologize again, to tell him how sorry I was that he had been dragged into this mess, but the words caught in my throat. Charlie was the one who finally broke the silence. "Marie, this is more proof that you must get out of this marriage, right? Damian's dangerous. He's unpredictable. You can't let him have any more control over your life." "I know," I said quietly, staring at my hands. "But I don't want to use this as an excuse to get a quicker divorce. I've known Damian for years, and he's never been violent before. Something must have triggered him." Charlie scoffed. "You're making excuses for him, Marie. He's not the man you thought he was. He's shown his true colors, and they're ugly. You need to protect yourself—and your baby. The sooner you're rid of him, the better." His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew he was right, but it didn't make accepting it any easier. Damian had hurt me in ways I never thought possible, but deep down, I still wanted to believe that the man I married wasn't a monster. That somewhere, beneath all the lies and manipulation, there was still a shred of the man I had fallen in love with. "I can't believe that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't believe that Damian is completely beyond redemption." Charlie's face softened, and he reached out to take my hand, squeezing it. "You have a good heart, Marie, and that's why you want to see the best in people. But sometimes, you have to be realistic. Damian has hurt you in unforgivable ways. You need to think about yourself and your child now." "I know, Charlie. I know I need to let go, but it's so hard. Despite everything, I loved him, and a part of me still does." "That's natural," Charlie said gently. "But love isn't enough if it's not reciprocated. Damian used you, and now he's showing his true nature. You deserve better than this." I nodded. "I just don't understand how things went so wrong. We were supposed to be happy, Charlie. We were supposed to build a life together, and now…" "Now, you're going to build a life on your own," Charlie said firmly. "You're strong, Marie. You've always been strong. You'll get through this, I promise." I looked at him, at the bruises marring his face; Charlie had always been there for me, even when things were at their worst. He was right; I needed to move on and find a way to live without Damian.