Wrong Vengeance

by The Blakk Dahlia

  “You stay trippin woman.” Jay laughed.

  “I’m not happy Jay.” Brandy said in a lowered tone. “I haven’t been happy in this relationship for a long time. You don’t help out. You’re probably out cheating again, and I can do this by myself. You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

  “OK.” He nodded. “I get you’re unhappy. But don’t take that out on me. I’m your man. My job is to be a companion. I show you love.”

  “Only in the bedroom.”

  “It’s still love! And I give it. What other man is going to show you that? You made the decision to be unhappy. I didn’t give you those feelings. I’m here. I’m in your arms every night. I come home to you!” Jay said, pointing his cigarette at her.

  “Only because you have no other place to go. If you did, you wouldn’t think to circle back around this way. You don’t want a girlfriend, you want a caretaker and I can’t do too much more of this.”

  He continued to smoke his cigarette waiting for her to be done with the conversation.

  Unfortunately, they had the same talk every month for the past two years. They’d been dating for three. After the first year, he decided to move in. Unknowingly to Brandy, he only suggested it because his friend put him out. She knew what she was getting. A semi-drug dealer, but not the money to back up the stereotypical title. She tried to make things work but was constantly pushed to the edge.

  “Can you at least pay me back for the stuff I got for you tonight?” She yelled.

  “Calm your ass down.” Jay warned. “You know I’m short on money!”

  “Sick of your stupid ass!” Brandy shouted slamming the bedroom door in his face.

  Sitting on the bed, she waited for the front door to close, giving a sign that there would be peace for the rest of the night through his absence.

  A few seconds later, he banged on the bedroom door. “Brandy! Stop locking me out! Tired of you doing that shit!”

  “I paid for this apartment. It’s MY bedroom!” She shouted back.

  Jay felt like the king of the castle, and no lack of employment or financial contribution would allow him to believe otherwise. Every woman in his life took care of him, so that mentality came naturally. His looks carried him a long way with the ladies. Enough to where he could charm his way into any living situation without a job or determination to be better.

  The banging grew louder and louder along with Jay’s voice demanding her to open it. Worried the neighbors would complain, she unlocked the door. As soon as it flung open, the yelling continued.

  “What tha hell is wrong with you?!? I told you about that shit!”

  “Whatever. I need to get to bed I have to be in early tomorrow.” She said, turning away from him. “Sleep in the living room tonight. I don’t want to be around you.”

  “I don’t care where the fuck you gotta go! Don’t do that shit again!” Jay yelled walking towards her. “And I’m sleeping MY bed tonight. Ain’t gone be no sleeping on the couch over here!”

  “I can’t take you serious right now. Please go scratch off your lotto tickets and hope for a miracle.”

  She walked into the closet, laughing to herself about her boyfriend’s tantrum. That didn’t sit well with his ego and he decided to show who was king.

  “Don’t walk off from me while I’m talking to you.” He followed.

  “Shut up Jay. Always talking about nothing. I don’t care about you being mad right now.” She taunted. “Go roll up or something. Just get the hell out of MY room.”

  He stood firmly in the closet doorway, watching her sift through clothes. Brandy didn’t look up to meet his glaring eyes. She put on nightclothes and picked an outfit for work then proceeded to walk out of the closet. His hand stopped her from moving.

  She was not in the mood to deal with him. Thinking that by ignoring the tirade, he would give up and go away. After that didn’t work, her anger returned.

  “Tha fuck is your problem?” He asked with his hand pressed firmly on her chest.

  “You! Dumbass!” She snapped, pushing the hand away. “Move! I need to go to bed!”

  “You gone stop disrespecting me.” He pointed at her forehead. “I’m the man of this house.”

  “Ha! The man!?! Please. Ain’t nothing about you says, ‘man of the house’. You’re tired, broke, and full of shit!” Brandy antagonized. “As a matter of fact, you’re my BITCH! You can’t get shit without me. Not even a pack of cigarettes!”

  She had never called him a bitch before. Those words were a culmination of everything. Jay cheated on her several times with the baby mama. Along with disrespecting her. After that tirade in the car with herself, Brandy realized that the anger towards the convenience store loitering bachelor was for her man.

  Jay grew angrier as she tested his character. He didn’t appreciate the name calling nor highlighting his money status. She chose him and in choosing him, there was an unspoken “as is” policy.

  Grabbing her forearm, he shoved her into the closet. She stumbled backwards, catching onto the wall to keep from falling.

  “Fool are you crazy!!? Let me out of this closet. Unlike you, I have a job to go to tomorrow.”

  “Keep it up.” He warned again. “I’m not playing with you woman.”

  “Then leave! Please! I don’t need you here. You don’t do shit!” She yelled.

  Fury filled his face, trying to instill fear into his woman. The fact that she wasn’t submitting only intensified the moment. Brandy knew something was brewing but refused to back down.

  Although they constantly argued over money, it had never escalated to a physical level. They entered into new territory in the relationship and it wasn’t good at all.

  “And what are you going to do?” She tested, tossing the clothes to the floor.

  Jay didn’t respond, while walking towards her only to push his lady into the wall again. Falling back into the wall with her arms spread wide, Brandy started to feel fear. However, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of showing it.

  “So, you’re just going to push me all night?” She asked, staying close to the wall.

  He kept his eyes on her with a stern look, but it wasn’t working. There was no respect for him as a man.

  “What is this supposed to be about?” Brandy asked slowly moving forward.

  Remaining silent, he shoved her again. This time with more force causing her back to make a dent in the wall.

  Growing tired of the charade, Brandy made an executive decision. If Jay wasn’t going to stop, she would make him. She picked up his expensive sneaker and held it firmly in her hand. One more push, and he was going to get it.

  “Tha fuck is your problem?!?!” Jay shouted, moving his eyes to the sneaker.

  “You know what. Get tha fuck out.” She shouted while chunking the shoe at him.

  The shoe hit him in the chest and plopped on the floor. As he recovered from the surprise, she snatched his clothes off hangers and threw them in a pile. Noticing that he wasn’t moving, she spoke up again.

  “You heard me. Get tha fuck out! This is MY house, and you don’t do shit around here but give me a fucking headache!”

  Brandy became a raging animal tugging and tossing clothes. For once, she realized how she created her own unhappiness. The relationship was toxic with no signs of getting better. It was past time to let it go.

  “Wait hoe you ain’t putting me out!” He said waving his arms.

  “Hoe!? YOU’RE THE...Oh, you really gotta go now!” She resumed, tossing a shoe at his head.

  While dodging the second shoe hurl, Jay turned into a monster. That was the only way he saw fit to regain his manhood. He grabbed Brandy by the neck, jacking her up on the wall, creating another dent with her head. She dropped everything trying to fight him off.

  “Jay, stop!” Brandy screamed in a raspy voice, clawing at his shoulder and face.

  Jay didn’t say a word. Watching her struggle to be freed from the strong grasp was gratifying. Throughout the
tussle, his hand moved to her jawline. He tightened his grip as she looked into his dead eyes.

  Brandy, on the other hand, only fought harder to get away. She feared for her life. After scratching and kicking him more times he could handle, he let her go. Only to stand over her and relish as she fell to her knees coughing.

  “Jay...I can’t BELIEVE...you just did that!” She said, trying to regain composure.

  Brandy was hurt physically and emotionally but he wasn’t going to kick her ass in her own closet. She resumed piling his clothes while on the ground, waiting for him to leave so she could stand.

  “Stop touching my stuff unless you’re going to hang it back up.” Jay kneeled to her level. “See, you brought this on yourself woman. We could have had a good night. Making love in bed, but you wanna come home with an attitude and take it out on me.”

  “Leave me alone Jay.”

  “Woman...come to bed.” He demanded grabbing her face to look at him.

  Brandy snatched away, keeping her place on the floor pushing his shoes into the pile.

  “Fine. I’ll leave you to this mess then.”

  Jay stood up and walked out of the closet. He sat on the edge of the bed clicking the TV remote. The man pushed and choked his girlfriend in her own closet yet had the nerve to suggest they go to bed together. Brandy felt anger rising higher and higher.

  She stood up and walked out of the closet towards him. All of the anger rushed to her right hand, using it to slap him across his face.

  “Man, what tha hell!?!?” Jay screamed, writhing in pain. “You almost broke my nose!”

  He arose; grabbing her neck then slung her on the bed. Erratic hand slaps came across her face with a monstrous force.

  “Jay stop it! Stop it Jay!”

  At that point, fear overtook anger. Brandy thought her life was ending as the choking and slapping continued. Numb to her body aching because of the adrenaline rush mixed with mentally leaving the situation. Jay finally got what he wanted. Real fear out of his woman.

  “I told you about this shit. I told you!” He slapped and choked harder to make sure the message was clear.

  Brandy’s man wasn’t in the mood for murder, however he wasn’t aware of his strength. She was barely breathing and surrendering to the notion of being weaker than Jay’s rage.

  After feeling superior by the physical ruling, he released her and slowly climbed off the bed. With a throbbing nose, he walked into the bathroom to check out the damage.

  Brandy laid in bed feeling defeated. Despite the aggravation, she loved him. A man she truly loved harmed her in a way she’d never imagine. With a little strength returning, she sat up and staggered back into the closet to retrieve Jay’s clothes.

  “Get out Jay! NOW!” She said with a cracked voice.

  “What!” He walked out the bathroom holding his nose. “You hit me and now I have to leave?!?”

  Surprised that she still wanted to put him out, after every attempt he made to scare her. His lady was not going to stop unless he killed her or left the apartment for the night. Jay assumed they were going to give each other the silent treatment and wake up the next morning as if nothing happened.

  However, Brandy didn’t want to wake up to a man who physically abused her. She dealt with taking care of him, but he wasn’t going to be a leech AND a woman beater on her dime.

  “Yes! I told you before you had to leave, now go!” She sniffled. “You have ten seconds or I’m calling the police!”

  Jay went into the kitchen to get a trash bag. Although he loved his situation, it wasn’t worth going back to jail. While throwing clothes in the trash bag, he made one final attempt to scare Brandy into letting him stay.

  “If I leave I ain’t coming back woman. Ain’t no other nigga like me. I’m a real one who loves you and you just giving up like this. See this is a blessing. You ain’t strong enough for a nigga like me. You a weak bitch.”

  She tried to ignore the speech while transferring his things to the living room but couldn’t. The words stung as hard as the aftermath of her face meeting his harsh palms.

  Jay pulled out his cell to call his friend, T-Red.

  “Aye T. This bitch over here trippn and I’m leaving her.... yea man I need you to come scoop me up real quick...Shit I know. I knew she couldn’t take a nigga like me. I was losing interest in the bitch anyway.... Ha! Hell yea. Trick can’t get a man and I do her a favor by moving in, so she can have somebody to come home to. I can’t take this shit no more....”

  Brandy was hurt and couldn’t take any more of his words. She locked herself inside the bathroom to avoid any remaining drama. Looking in the mirror, she found a swollen face painted with bruises, blood, and shame. Feeling stupid for dealing with Jay for three long years, tears streamed at the thoughts of giving up chances to meet someone new. In that instance, she promised herself no other man would do that again.

  30 minutes later, Jay left in silence.

  Walking back into the bedroom where all the drama took place, Brandy felt sick to her stomach. She almost threw up as she reached the closet looking at empty hangers the dents in the wall from their tussle. Shaking her head, she blacked out.

  A panic attack sent her to the floor crying and heaving. She spent the night in the closet, waking up early the next morning to call in and take a few days off work.

  Two days flew by with Brandy moving around in a trance. Unfortunately, Jay found himself back at her front door. She hadn’t left her apartment since the incident. His remaining belongs found in the bathroom were packed into a small box and placed outside in front of the apartment door.

  He picked up the box and tried to use the key to let himself in. To his surprise, she had the super change the locks. Knocking slowly, he thought of what to say to get back on her good side.

  “What do you want?” Brandy answered, looking at the pathetic excuse of a man in front of her.

  “I’m sorry.” Jay replied with a smile.

  “I know.”

  “Don’t be like that. Stop being mad at me. You know we have a love that can survive anything.”

  “What!?” She shrieked, holding her face as it hurt to open her mouth wide.

  “I love you Brandy and you know you love me. I don’t have any place to go. You’re going to let your man live on the street?” He whined.

  “You’re not my man and I suggest you go back to wherever you were for the past two days.”

  “Brandy.”

  “Goodbye Jay. Please stay away or I’m calling the police for real.” She demanded then slammed the door in his face.

  A piece of her wanted him back. She was comfortable with Jay but there were throbbing pains on her face, neck, and head reminding that couldn’t be a possibility. Her ex-lover showed what he was capable of, and she was scared to go back. Brandy was done with him for good.

  CHAPTER 2: A RARE BREED INDEED!

  It had been six months since Brandy ended things with Jay. She needed to remove herself from the memories of the apartment from hell. To add to the dismay, stares from neighbors as she finally emerged were embarrassing as the thin walls told a story of what happened. Breaking her lease, a new condo in downtown Houston served as a fresh start.

  Although time aided in lifting her spirits, it didn’t stop the nightmares and overthinking. She was over her ex but not over the assault, his harsh words before leaving, nor how she felt used. Blaming herself for putting up with him for so long. Constantly thinking about what he did, how he did it, and who he was doing it with.

  Brandy stuck to her promise of not allowing another man to treat her that way. However, the cost of that promise turned her into a woman who was afraid to try again. The hermit lifestyle gave more than enough time to reflect and concluded that what she and Jay had wasn’t real love. It was only a fabrication and the need to be with someone.

  However, settling in the new atmosphere of a “Jayless” home helped her warm up to the idea of releasing the fear. Although hesitant, Brandy wa
s ready to make small steps towards truly moving on. Unfortunately, she was unsure of how to move forward without the haunting feelings of dealing with another Jay. Cursing her foolish heart daily toyed with her self-esteem. Wanting to be loved, but also thinking that the past was going to repeat itself in the form of a new man.

  ________

  A nice evening after work, Brandy walked to a nearby bar for happy hour. This was a step in her new faith in trying again. Breaking the routine of coming straight home from work and spending weekends alone.

  She wasn’t expecting to meet “Mr. Right” instantly. The idea was to be open enough for casual conversations with the opposite sex. Sitting at the bar taking in all the vibes of professionals celebrating another long day, Brandy felt a grain of hope.

  Soon after ordering a half-priced drink, a handsome professional man unbuttoned his suit jacket, taking a seat next to her.

  “Hello.” He said looking in her direction with a smile.

  “Hi.” She replied with a straight face, pointing to the stool. “You’re supposed to ask if anyone was sitting there.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I taking your friend’s seat?” He said swiftly standing up, looking around.

  “Nope.” Brandy giggled then turned back to her drink.

  “Don’t do that.” He laughed in relief. “Just for that. The next one is on me.”

  “Thanks! And sorry. The opportunity was too good to pass up.”

  He shook his head slowly, still displaying his adorable smile. “Damn shame.”

  “Don’t hold it against me please.” She flirted.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  The teasing came naturally, as she didn’t plan on initially saying one word to him. An unspeakable attraction allowed the words to flow. But after that, nothing came to mind.

  “Charles.” He said getting comfortable.

  “Brandy.”

  “Nice to meet you Miss Brandy. You have a nice smile by the way.” Charles admired.

  “Well thank you.” She replied not making eye contact.