I was coming home from another long night of rehearsal, of “Fighting Back” a current Hollywood movie that I’m working on. The rain and thunderstorm had gotten worse as I turned to pull up the driveway. Luckily, I had my umbrella lying in the back seat. I checked to see what time it was and my digital clock read to me: 1:15am. I couldn’t believe that the time had flown past like that. I hoped Leon was still in bed sleep so I could sneak into the house unnoticed.
I turned off the ignition to my Porsche, grabbed my umbrella and walked towards the porch. I fumbled through my purse to find my house keys. I finally unlocked the door and stepped into the house. Looking around, a bit startled, it was darker inside the house then outside. I tried to reach for a light switch but the next thing I knew I heard Leon’s voice pounding from the end of the hallway as I saw a tall figure running towards me. I slid against the wall as I anticipated what would happen next.
“What the hell are you doing coming home so fucking late, Leilani?!” He asked yelling at me.
“Leon, you knew I had rehearsal tonight. I just didn’t expect it to last so long. Sorry, I lost track of time. But it’s not the first time, so why are you always tripping?” I stated as I tried to plead my case.
“That’s just it, shit! I’m tired of you coming home so fucking late all the damn time. What the fuck are you doing that you have to keep coming home so late. Are you cheating on me? You’re cheating aren’t you?”
“No, Leon. I’m not cheating on you. I don’t have time to cheat any damn way.”
“What? So you saying if you had the time you would!”
“Leon, you’re taking it the wrong way, you know what I mean. I’m tired; I don’t have time for this. I just want to go to sleep.”
“Hell no, fucks that! I’m not letting you get away from me that easily. I’ll be damned if you cheat on me and think you can get away with it!” He repeated over and over.
“I’m not cheating on you! What the hell is wrong with you?!! I was at work! Why do you always think someone is cheating on you?! Are you cheating on me?! Do you feel guilty for some stupid shit that you did? Now you just want to blame that shit on me?! I’m tired of this Leon, damn.”
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to like that!” He said as the thundered clapped and the rain poured down harder. It was one thing to be arguing but I don’t think the weather helped the situation any better. The more the thunder boomed the scarier it made Leon’s voice appear to be. I just wanted this night to be over. But it was far from being done with I see.
I walked past him towards the stairs; I didn’t want to argue with him tonight. He knew I’d never cheat on him so I didn’t know where all this was coming from. I just wanted to crawl into bed and get a good night’s sleep. Well a good morning’s sleep. But he just wouldn’t let this go.
“No! I’m not letting you walk away from this shit!” He said, as he pulled me from my waist and threw me onto the floor. I tried to rise to my feet but he started to punch me in the face. I blocked my face with my hands and kicked him in the groin. I tried to run to the den as fast as I could to escape from Leon’s treacherous fit. Here we go again I thought. I couldn’t take coming home to his abusive ways. I didn’t need this. I sure as hell didn’t deserve this. Every night we fight. Every night we argue, every night I’d end up bloodied and bruised. Every night he’d lie as he looked me in my eyes and told me that he loved me. Every night I’d cry as I felt that each day another part of me has died.
“You bitch! Wait to I get my hands on you. I’m going to kick your ass!”
“Leon! LEON just please leave me alone! I’m tired of going through this with you. You’re going fucking insane!”
“Oh I’m the one that’s insane while you’re going out doing God know what with GOD know who.”
I sat in the den with the door locked thinking to myself why do I continue to endure this pain and misery from a man that clearly doesn’t love me. I know that I deserve better but I am just too damn afraid to leave him. I am paralyzed in fear, stuck in a loveless relationship. The house turned quiet even the thunder stopped roaring. I assumed that Leon had given up his pursuit of trying to chase me down. I slowly crepe to the door, still everything seemed silent. I opened the door and walked into the hallway. I proceeded down the hall towards the downstairs bedroom. Sadly, the next thing I knew Leon had appeared out of nowhere.
“You thought I would forget about this shit!” He shouted.
As soon as I heard his voice I stood frozen in fear; that paralyzing feeling came over my body again. I didn’t know what happened next because moments later I felt Leon hit me in the back of the head with a metal baseball bat. I fell to the floor. I blacked out. I know I could’ve died that night. All this shit this man has put me through. I couldn’t take it anymore, so why the fuck was I doing it? But this is just the tip of the ice berg.
Maybe I should back up a minute and explain to you just how everything got so rough between me and Leon. Because honestly speaking, things weren’t always this horrific between us. Let me tell you the story of how Leon and I first started dating. One meeting changed my entire life as I struggled to juggle college and my professional acting career. I guess love really can be deadly.
