Sheltered_A Short Story by B. R. Miller

Author:B. R. Miller [Miller, B. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: B. R. Miller Media
Published: 2018-06-09T18:30:00+00:00

We found ourselves sitting at the table finishing up our lunch later that day when Brent flashed me a warm smile. After our talk on the porch, the subject of Sloan hadn’t been brought up and Brent did his best to keep the conversations light hearted. A large part of me felt an immense relief knowing that Brent knew about Sloan. It was as if there were no more barriers between us and we could start a new life – together if he would have me.

“I really, really think you should read Into the Wild,” he said, chuckling. “I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it is! And it might even encourage you.”

“Encourage me how?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, like I said yesterday,” he began, leaning back in his chair as if he was about to start a lecture, “it’s about a man who is so unhappy with his life that he does whatever it takes to make him happy again – even if that meant cutting off some of what was comfortable to him – wealth, material possessions, old relationships.”

I smiled then hung my head. I knew what he was hinting at. I didn’t know if I could ever simply cut Sloan out of my life completely. I wanted to, desperately, but I was just unsure if it would be feasible.

“Brent,” I began slowly, “I’ve been married to Sloan for eleven years. That’s eleven years of my life that I can’t get back. I’m not sure I can just simply throw it – him – aside like that.”

“Devyn, he beat you,” he said, his words hitting me like knives.

“I know he did,” I began, “but I’m sure that deep down, people can change, right?”

“People don’t change, Devyn, only the way they make themselves look changes.”

Brent was right and I knew that. I had to stop letting my doubts creep in and find a way to move on, leaving Sloan in the past.

“You should call the cops,” Brent said, as if it was a fact.

“No,” I quickly said. “I can’t do that.”

“Devyn, he’s not going to stop unless he is put behind bars,” Brent said, leaning forward onto the table. “Say you do end up leaving – which you should – but he finds another woman to take him. What’s going to happen to her? Is it right to let what happened to you happen to someone else if you knew you could stop it?”

“Don’t tell me what’s right!” I yell, throwing my fist onto the table. “You have no idea what it was like to live through hell everyday – not knowing if you were going to survive or if this beating was going to be the one that finally does you in! Don’t sit there and preach to me about what is right! I am doing what is right for me!”

Brent sat back in his chair, his face softening as he bit his lower lip. I couldn’t believe that he told me that.

“We all have our hells, Devyn,” he said slowly.

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