Melinda's eyes glistened, rhinestones in the clear, silent night.
"Worthless," Daniel repeated. "Worthless, useless. Absolutely unbelievable."
He stood, pacing, his fists clenched tightly in the moment of rage. That's what it was, Melinda tried to convince herself. Simply a moment. Somewhere within, though, she kn
(more)ew this was not true. It was not that Daniel had moments of rage. Daniel was a constant rage, an unending storm throwing about and capsizing the boat that was the fragility of her dignity.
"Mistake after mistake. How much do you expect me to accept?” Daniel demanded, his voice rising as each word came as a flood.
Melinda restrained from whimpering, staring with sorrow and terror from behind those glistening stones.
“HOW MUCH?” he demanded, once again. He continued to ask this question, over and over, but she knew better than to respond. She had made that mistake one time, years before. After so long, she had learned how to keep the storm from tearing her apart completely.
“Worthless,” Daniel began mumbling to himself. “Foolish, worthless, useless. Stupid, ignorant girl. How could one not loathe your mere existence? Till death do us part, you say? As you wish…As you wish…AS YOU WISH!”
And as his fist made contact with her soft, pallid skin one last time, the glistening rhinestones froze within. For the split second before her transparent eyelids closed, her dark pupils dilated. Still, they shined under the moonlight. (less)
