Funke's Dilemma

I had gone to the supermarket to buy groceries. I didn’t get all the supplies I needed from the mart near the house, they were out of the supplies I needed. “Incompetent people”, I thought. “So inefficient!” I cussed as I started my car and drove to supermarket uptown. I wasn’t conscious of time; I had stayed longer than I had planned. I joined the queue in front of a counter with a trolley load of supplies. I reached for my wallet in my purse to bring out my credit card. When my phone buzzed, a message from Derrick (my husband) came in. “Where are you?” It read. I knew for a fact that I was in trouble. I hurried out of the store, ignited my car engine and drove off as fast as I could. On getting home, I entered through the back door. The house looked peaceful; I saw David in the sitting room watching TV. He ran to hug me “Mummy!” he called out; he was my little boy, my delight. “Have you eaten?” I asked as I hugged him, he nodded. “Where is daddy?” I asked as I released him from the hug. “Daddy looks furious”, he said. He continued after a long pause “Mummy, I hope he won’t hit you this evening, I really hate when he does”, he said worried. “Dee”, I usually called him “couples usually go through this”, I said. “But Mark said his dad has never hit his Mom before” he told me. “Did you tell Mark about us?” I asked irked. “Dee, I told you before family issues are private.” I said disappointed, he knew not to talk about family with his friends. “Daddy has some issues but he isn’t a bad man, he is just under a lot of pressure”, I sighed as I made excuses for him. “So let’s not agitate him any further”. David looked at me and sighed, I knew he was tired of hearing all the excuses I gave. “Funke! Funke!! Where are you coming from?” Derrick yelled from behind me. “Go to your room” I told David. He looked reluctant. “Just go! I will be with you in a minute”, I never wanted him to see the demonic part of his father. “But mom...” he complained, I cut him short “I said leave”. “Funke look at me when I’m talking to you!” Derrick shouted, more infuriated. I didn’t turn until I watched David leave, I watched him run up the stairs. I turned to face my greatest fear, “Store”, I said in weak whisper. “Speak up! You know I hate it when you mutter”, he replied me. “I said, store”, I answered. He unloosened his belt, “Store? Store? Where are the groceries?” he asked. I then realized I had forgotten the groceries in the store. “I forgot them”, I replied, I knew my answer annoyed him but I didn’t care, I was just tired. “You forgot them? You liar!” he shouted as his slap cut across my face. “I’m not lying”, I tried to defend myself. My defence so infuriated him that he whipped my back with his belt. “Who is he?!” he asked, “Who?” I asked confused as tears rolled down my face. “Don’t act innocent, you bit**h!” he spat. “You want to leave me, uh?”, he asked, as each word was followed with a punch. He pulled me by the hair and continuously hit my head against the kitchen’s worktable. I could barely hear what he said, all of a sudden I had strength and I wanted to retaliate. I was more than tired of all these beatings, I was tired of him. I tried to free myself but I knew all my efforts were useless. He kicked me to the ground and banged my back; I hid my head between my legs so he wouldn’t hit it any more. I let the blows pour on my back. I reached for the bottle that was on the ground and hit him hard with it. I knew it wouldn’t keep him down for long but I needed to buy time. I ran into my closet to pack up my luggage. “Dee, pack your bags”, I called out to David. I sneaked into Derrick’s office to take some money. I wasn’t allowed to keep cash because he said I had him if I needed anything. I opened the safe, and packed as much as I could and stuffed my bag with it. I was still clearing his safe when I felt his hand on my neck strangling life out of me. “Please, please”, I begged him. “Tell me you love me, tell me you’d never leave me”, he said. “I love you, please I love you”, I told him. “No, you don’t mean it!” he said. “Say it and mean it!” he said placing a gun on my head. “I love you Derrick, only you”, I said as he kept his hands tightly wrapped around my neck. I grabbed the paper scissor that sat on the office desk, and continuously stabbed him with it. The gun fell from him but yet I couldn’t stop stabbing him. I somehow enjoyed it; I pleasured myself with killing him when I heard a gunshot. David had fired the gun; he shot his father (lights out). * * * To be continued.