Chapter 3 - Changing the Safeguards
The sun rose over Chicago with a grey
unforgiving light
casting long shadows through our bedroom window.
I did not sleep at all
spending the hours watching Megan's chest rise and fall
ensuring she was still breathing safely beside me.
At seven in the morning
I slipped out of bed
careful not to wake her from her deep exhaustion.
I walked into the living room
the quietness of the apartment now feeling heavy
almost suffocating.
My first task was clear
and I grabbed my toolbox from the closet
the heavy metal clanking loudly in the silence.
I went to the front door
staring at the deadbolt that my mother had used to enter our sanctuary.
With a screwdriver in hand
I began to dismantle the old lock
unscrewing the silver plates with a fierce determination.
Every twist of the tool felt like a small victory
a declaration of independence from her tyranny.
I replaced the mechanism with a brand new
heavy-duty lock
one that required a code that only Megan and I would know.
As I tightened the final screw
my phone began to buzz on the kitchen counter.
The screen lit up
displaying the word "Mom" in bold letters.
My hand trembled as I picked it up
debating whether to answer or let it go to voicemail.
I decided to face her
pressing the green button and lifting the phone to my ear.
"Jake
darling
we need to talk about last night,"
her voice sounded perfectly calm
as if nothing had happened.
"There is nothing to talk about
Linda,"
I said
using her first name to create a distance between us.
She gasped
offended by the lack of respect.
"How dare you speak to me that way
after everything I've done for you?"
"You hurt my wife
you bruised her legs
and you threatened to take our child,"
I said
my voice steady but dripping with malice.
"She is lying to you
Jake
she's trying to alienate you from your own family,"
she countered quickly
her tone shifting into a sharp
accusatory weapon.
"She did those things to herself
just to get your attention
because she knows you're pulling away."
The sheer audacity of her gaslighting made my blood boil.
"I saw the bruises
Linda
and I know what you did."
"If you ever come near this apartment again
if you ever look at Megan
I will call the police and have you arrested."
She laughed
a dry
heartless sound that chilled me to the bone.
"The police won't do anything to me
Jake
I have friends in high places
and your wife has a history of anxiety."
"Who do you think they will believe?"
She hung up before I could reply
leaving me with the dial tone echoing in my ear.
I dropped the phone onto the counter
realizing she was right about her influence
but dead wrong about my resolve.
I went back to the bedroom
finding Megan awake
staring at the doorway with wide
anxious eyes.
"I changed the locks
sweetheart
she can't get in here anymore,"
I said
kneeling beside her.
She took a deep breath
the tension in her shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
"Thank you
Jake,"
she whispered
reaching out to touch my face.
"But we aren't safe here
she knows where we live
she knows my routine."
May you like
"I know
and that's why we're leaving today."
