Wednesday 13 January 2016

The Journey to Bristol

Reworked 09/03/2016

She curled up in the seat and tried to sleep, but that wasn't going to happen. It had been all right until Cardiff; she had a double seat to herself and she knew that Kev wouldn't have seen the note. But now and Kev would be home from work now so he would now know she was gone. And to make matters worse there was now a man sitting next to her who was wearing the same aftershave as her Kev meaning every breath was a reminder.
She could just imagine him throwing things around the living room; taking his anger out on inanimate objects because the animate ones he liked to abuse were no longer there.
At Newport, a man got on who looked just like Steve, Kev’s best man. He’d stared at her as he’d walked down the aisle. She wanted to look away but she couldn’t, she had to be sure it wasn’t Steve. As he got closer she could see it wasn’t; in fact it didn’t look anything like him, she shook her head ran her fingers around the inside of her collar.
The rain lashed against the window. The Christmas lights blurring in the wet. She checked her phone was off and closed her eyes, but she couldn’t find her own off switch. 
What would he do? How would he feel? For a moment she wished she could hug him, tell him everything would be all right. But she couldn’t think like that. What if he tried to come after her? How would she react?  But he couldn't come after her because if she didn't know where she was going, then how the hell would he? But what if someone saw her get on the bus? What if that was Jim she’d seen at Swansea bus station? Would he call Kev and ask him why his wife was on a bus to Bristol?  At least the kids should be safe. Her mum had them and, if there was one person Kev was scared of, it was her mum. 
She could just make out the Severn Bridge through the clouds. England looked brighter. She’d get off at Bristol and then buy another ticket to wherever the next bus was going. Once she got there, she’d put herself up in a hotel and plan her next move. She played with her phone out of habit. The screen was off and would stay that way until she could buy a new sim card.
The rain stopped as they hit the Bridge. A blue Vauxhall Astra sped past them. She thought of Kev and how much time he spent on his Astra; polishing, cleaning, tuning. He never lashed out on it.
Her body was stiff and tired as she climbed off the bus. She stood and stretched taking in her surroundings. She could smell coffee; she’d get a quick latte and then buy her ticket. 
“Kayleigh! Kayleigh!” Her stomach flipped when she heard the voice. She tried to ignore it. She hoped it was just some kind of coincidence, that there was another Kayleigh somewhere close by.  But when she felt the hand on her shoulder she felt a little bit of her die. 
“Kayleigh my love,” Kev said and hugged her. “I’m sorry.” He was crying, she’d never seen him cry. Except that time Wales lost to England, “I thought I’d lost you.” 
Kayleigh tentatively put her arms around him, but you couldn’t call it a hug. She breathed in his aftershave, and felt a sense of familiar warmth. Tears dripped down her face.
“We’re so lucky,” He sniffed, “Jim saw you,” another snivel. “Come on, let’s get you home; it doesn’t matter now.” He took her hand and tried to lead her out of the coach station. Kayleigh stood still like a disobedient dog. She didn’t want to go home. She’d made the decision to leave and had got this far but… She looked at his daft, loveable face. Memories of happy families and magical moments came flooding back. He was a bastard, but she did love him. Maybe she was being silly. Maybe she should go home after all, wouldn’t it be better for the kids? She took one step and stopped. If she went back now she would never get away. She had to say no.
But he wasn’t that bad was he? And she must be a pain to live with at times. She took another step and then found herself walking with him. 
“You wait till you see what I’ve got for you back home,” he said, smiling through the tears. He grabbed her wrist and started pulling her across the concourse. 
 “We’ll pick up the kids, get fish and chips and then I’ll give you your Christmas present early. You’re going to love it.” Kev said. Kayleigh tried to force a smile but he was hurting her wrist and now the tears had stopped, his words sounded more sinister than sincere. She put her hand in the neckline of her top and scratched her collarbone, trying to to catch her breath.
Away from the crowds of people and the prying eyes would his mood swing and his fist fly?  She looked around. Here and now, in the station, with people around her, this was her chance.
“Help! Help!” People looked at her. The three police officers dotted around the station started to move towards them. “Help!”
“What the fuck?” Kev had let her go and was staring at her. 
“Help!” 
“Shut the fuck up you bitch.” He raised his hand ready to knock ‘some sense’ into her. She stared at him standing there with his hand raised, showing his sweat patch.  For one time in her life she wanted the bastard to hit her. Show the world what he did behind closed doors. She waited for the pain. But even now he let her down.
Two of the officers grabbed Kev and another moved Kayleigh out of harm’s way. Kayleigh collapsed sobbing into the officer’s armpit. 

“Leave me alone. She’s my wife. Kayleigh tell them.” Kev protested, but Kayleigh had no interest in telling them. 

Original
For audio click here (sorry about the poor quality today.) 
She curled up in the seat and tried to sleep, but that wasn't going to happen. It had been all right until Cardiff; she had a double seat to herself and she knew that Kev wouldn't have seen the note. But now there was a man sitting next to her who was wearing the same aftershave as her husband and Kev would be home from work and would know she was gone. She could just see him throwing things around the living room; taking his anger out on inanimate objects because the animate ones he liked to abuse were no longer there. Was she the coward for running away? Or was he the coward for using her as a human punch bag?
The rain lashed against the window like the world was crying her tears. The Christmas lights blurring in the wet. She closed her eyes but she couldn’t find the off switch in her brain. 
What would he do? Would he try to come after her? He couldn't because if she didn't know where she was going then how the hell would he? At least the kids should be safe. Her mum had them and if there was one person Kev was scared of, it was her mum. 
She could just make out the Severn Bridge through the clouds. England looked brighter; like it offered her new hope. She’d get off at Bristol and then buy another ticket to wherever the next bus was going. Once she got there, she’d put herself up in a hotel and plan her next move. She played with her phone out of habit. The screen was off. She couldn’t risk it.
Her body was stiff and tired as she climbed off the bus. She stood and stretched taking in her surroundings. She could smell coffee; she’d get a quite latte and then buy her ticket. 
“Kayleigh! Kayleigh!” Her stomach flipped when she heard the voice. She tried to ignore it. She hoped it was just some kind of coincidence but when she felt the hand on her shoulder she felt a little bit of her die. 
“Kayleigh my love,” Kev said and hugged her. “I’m sorry,” he was crying. She’d never seen him cry. Well except that time Wales lost to England. “I thought I’d lost you.” 
Kayleigh tentatively put her arms around him. She breathed in his aftershave, and a shiver went down her spine. Tears dripped down her face.
“I’m so lucky that Jim told me he saw you get on a coach to Bristol. I thought it was strange but then when I read your note... Come on, let’s get you home; it doesn’t matter now.” He took her had and tried to lead her out of the coach station. Kayleigh stood still like a disobedient dog. She looked at his silly face. She did love him maybe she was being silly; maybe she should go home. She started walking with him. 
“You wait till you see what I’ve got for you back home,” he said, smiling through the tears. He grabbed her wrist and started pulling her across the concourse. 
 “We’ll pick up the kids, get fish and chips and then I’ll give you your Christmas present early. You’re going to love it,” Kev said, Kayleigh tried to force a smile but she didn’t want to; she didn’t want to go back home. 
They were just about to leave the bus station. Then what? Away from the crowds of people and the prying eyes would his mood swing and his fist fly like they had so many times in the past. Her wrist stung where he had hold of it. This was her only chance.
“Help! Help!” People looked at her. The three coppers dotted around the station started to move towards them. “Help!”
“What the fuck?” Kev had let her go and was staring at her. 
“Help!” 
“Shut the fuck up you bitch.” He raised his hand ready to knock some sense into her. For one time in her life she wanted the bastard to hit her. Show the world what he did behind closed doors. But even now he let her down.
Two coppers grabbed Kev and another moved Kayleigh out of harm’s way. Kayleigh collapsed sobbing into the officer’s armpit. 
“Leave me alone, it’s my wife. Kayleigh tell them.” Kev protested but Kayleigh had no interest in telling them. 


4 comments:

  1. Sometimes your stories touch the most sensitive point, normally hidden deep inside the soul, but terribly hurting when touched...
    And domestic violence is an important issue to discuss

    ReplyDelete
  2. Petra Goláňová16 January 2016 at 21:48

    "She could just see him throwing things around the living room; taking his anger out on inanimate objects because the animate ones he liked to abuse were no longer there. ..The rain lashed against the window like the world was crying her tears. The Christmas lights blurring in the wet. She closed her eyes but she couldn’t find the off switch in her brain. ..but when she felt the hand on her shoulder she felt a little bit of her die. ..He raised his hand ready to knock some sense into her. For one time in her life she wanted the bastard to hit her."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good rewrite I think... You can feel her anxiety, her ambivalent feelings for him even better

    ReplyDelete