The Woman in the Window
Frantically stuffing the heavy duty construction garbage bag into the large plastic container, Julia dragged it into a dark corner of the basement, walked up the stairs and slammed the door behind her. Julia turned the brass key in the keyhole locking the door like she was a prison guard locking away the most dangerous killer on death row. A few minutes later she stood trembling in the shower allowing the scolding hot water to wash away years of trauma.
May 1st, 2016 was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining among the fluffy white clouds set against the blue sky. Julia loved the lush green foliage of the trees swaying in the wind as if they were dancing to the sweetest tune. What really caught her attention were the wild spring flowers bursting with every hue of pastel colours. With the windows open to let the fresh air in, Julia smiled as she witnessed the bees and butterflies compete to taste the sweet nectar of the flowers. This was her wedding day. As a little girl, Julia always dreamt of finding her prince charming and wearing a white Cinderella dress on her special day.
Steering in the mirror at her reflection, Julia saw a battered woman. She had an open gash on her forehead, her left eye was a purple black colour and her lips were bloody and swollen. Julia did not recognize the woman in the mirror. The Julia she knew was an educated, independent, strong, and confident woman. Today started like every other day since her ten year wedding anniversary with her husband Peter. The morning began very early with her being woken out of her sleep to make Peter’s coffee and cock his breakfast before he left for work. Just before Peter was about to leave the house, Julia informed him, she would not be home when he returned from work because she was attending her weekly book club. Before she could turn around to see his reaction, she felt a sharp pain at the back of her head. Peter picked up the coffee cup and hit Julia on her forehead. She was slapped, punched in the eye and the mouth. “I thought I told you not to leave this house”. Peter glared at Julia as if he was a crazed wild man. “You cannot keep me locked in this house”. “I am an adult”. “I have a right to live my life”. Julia shouted the familiar words to Peter receiving the usual dismissive attitude from him. Before Peter left the house he sternly said, “If you want me to kill you, leave this house”.
Sitting in front of the window Julia sat in the dark bedroom still nursing the bruises she suffered from Peter’s attack. She felt numb and exhausted. The physical bruises did not hurt her as much as the emotional bruises she felt as a woman and a wife. Julia never thought she would become a battered wife. She loved Peter and did not understand why he treated her as if he hated her. She had no clue why his attitude and behavior changed toward her. Julia was afraid, but she did not want to tell her family for fear they may ostracize Peter and encourage her to leave him. Julia still had hope she could solve their problems and save their marriage. Julia was grateful they did not have children which she was sure would have made the situation more difficult.
Julia awoke to a loud crash coming from downstairs. She heard Peter’s slurred voice cursing to himself as he slammed the front door. Julia quietly went down stairs to see what was going on. The minute she saw Peter, she knew he had been drinking. His gray suite was disheveled. Pete’s face was red and swollen from the alcohol. When he opened his mouth to ask her about dinner, she smelled the stale cheap liquor on his breath. Julia’s stomach churned and the bitter bile flooded her mouth. She knew how this familiar scene played out to well. Just as she was about to leave the room, Peter began to verbally and physically attack her.
Something snapped inside Julia. It felt like she was having an outer-body experience. Just as Peter was about to throw the last blow to Julia head, she reached for the knife on the butchers block. Julia raised the large silver knife and drove it into Peter’s stomach and chest. She was angry and filled with rage. Julia unconsciously made the decision to fight back for the first time. Peter moaned in a soft voice. “You Bitch, you stabbed me”. He fell to the ground laying on his back with his eyes open. Julia kneeled beside him and pulled the knife out of his chest. She tried to stop him from bleeding but the blood gushed from his body like water flowing from a broken faucet. Julia was afraid and shaking like a leaf. She heard the blood gurgling in Peter’s lungs as he struggled to breath. Just as she was about to call the police, she saw Peter take his last breath. Relying on years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Julia knew Peter was dead. She did not know how long she sat cradling her husband in her arms. Filled with mixed emotions, Julia was not thinking logically. She made a decision that would change her life forever.
It has been a year since that tragic night Peter. Julia sat in an armed chair steering out her bedroom window facing the street. Julia watched as mothers pulled their SUVs into the garage unloading groceries and children who just came from their extra curricula activities. By 8:00 P.M., fathers tiredly stumbled from their cars from a long day’s work happy to have made it in time for dinner. Julia watch as her neighbor’s doors closed and the curtains drawn shutting out the world while safely cocooning the people inside. The nights were the hardest for Julia to scope with the loneness. She thought with Peter gone, her life would have been better. Julia thought by telling her their family and friends Peter walked away from her and their marriage to start a new family would have solved all of her problems. She traded one problem for another. Rather than having freedom to live her life, Julia was imprisoned in her home she turned into a tomb for Peter. She was stuck and could not move on because if she did, her dark secret would be discovered. That fateful night Julia decided not to call the police to report Peter’s death sealed her fate as the regretful lonely wife. She did not mean to harm Peter, it was a terrible accident. She still love Peter.
As the years passed by, Julia continued to sit in front of the window facing the street. She rarely saw her family and friends for fear they would discover Peter as dead. She still remember her wedding day which was the happiest day of her life. She still remember being in love with Peter. Every day, Julia thinks about Peter stuffed in the plastic container shoved away in the dark corner of her basement. She thinks about the family they did not have. She thinks about the lost anniversaries they would no longer have. Most importantly, Julia thinks about the freedom she wanted and the freedom she would never have. Julia sadly accepted the fact that Peter’s death sealed her fate to be married to him until death do them part. Julia will forever be Mrs. Roberts.