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“Would you be interested in running with me?” Mia looks up to see a gorgeous man towering over her, “Wow, you’re a big o’boy.” She laughs, her dark eyes fixed on his; she finishes her stretching and he helps her to her feet. “Yeah, I hear that a lot.” He points to the track, “So, will you join me?” He takes a few steps back, towards the track. His deep brown eyes blazing with anticipation, “I promise I won’t bite.” He reaches his enormous hand out, waiting for Mia, “I’ll behave myself.” Her eyes sparkle with a smile as she take his hand, “I’ll be a perfect gentleman.” He gently tugs her onto the track. Mia pulls her long black hair into a ponytail, still smiling and unsure what to say.
“Oh, my name is Alex, by the way.” He offers her his hand again, but hesitates and drops it to his side. He shakes his head and runs his hand through his graying black hair, “Sorry, I just get so nervous around beautiful women.”
Mia rolls her eyes at him, “And you were doing so well.” A look of surprise is frozen on his face, Mia brushes by him, “You were being charming without being flaky.” Alex looks at the ground, hand on his hip, tracing his foot along the ground. “Well, now I’m real nervous.” he flashes her another charming smile, “I really didn’t think you’d come along.” He stops and gazes at her, “I thought you’d blow me off.” He brakes the gaze and turns to run, “Are you still interested?” he grins over his shoulder. Mia watches him for a second, what the hell she thinks to herself. Alex looks back at her when she starts after him, “Mia.” she informs as she reaches his side.
“Mia,” he grins at her as they jog off, “I like that.” Mia’s smile grows uncontrollably,
“Do you,” she regains composure, “Does that mean you’ll ask me to dinner?” Alex laughs and stops her in the middle of the track, “Is that something you would like?” He leans to whisper in her ear with a voice she couldn’t resist, “Because I can’t imagine ending this day without you.” Mia blushes and urges herself to step back, but she doesn’t. She smiles up at him, a million words rush through her mind. Just say something, yes yes yes! “I can’t.” idiot say yes before its to late, she thinks to herself; she wishes she was brave enough to go for it. Alex takes a step back perplexed, “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought that was an open invitation to ask you for a date.” Alex turns to continue on his jog, Mia grabs his arm. He looks at her more confused than ever, “Ok,” he smiles, “You’re just going to have to spell it out for me, ‘cause I don’t get it.” He raises his hands to his head and smiles down at her, “What exactly would you like me to do.” he lowers his arms to rest at his side. Mia stares at him smiling and unable to speak, trying to reason with her behavior. “Yes,” she yelps, stop acting like a school girl, “I would like to have dinner with you.” she continues calmly. Alex steps back again, “You’re sure.” he jokes, “You want to have dinner with me?…” he raises and eyebrow at her, “Or do you need more time to think about it?” She playfully smacks at his arm and looks up at him,
“Of course I wanna have dinner with you.” she smiles, “You’ve been a perfect gentleman.” Alex smiles bashfully, “Tonight?”
“I don’t know” she bites her bottom lip,... if I say yes it could look desperate, but I desperately want to see you tonight.... “I might have to work late.” ...Good one, just happen to finish on time, yeah, that’ll work....
Alex pulls a card from his pocket, “Well, call me when you know for sure.” Mia takes the card and smiles at him, “I’ll do that.” Her phone rings, she looks at the screen and frowns, “I have to take this.” she starts toward the gate, “I’ll give you a call later.” she smiles, waving sheepishly, putting the phone to her ear. He waves back and she turns glancing over her shoulder before he disappears from view.




Mia sits in a lawn chair in her backyard, gazing at the stars. Her cigarette reminding her of yet another failed attempt at quieting, “How beautiful.” She thinks aloud. Completely oblivious that someone has been watching from the open gate. “Mia,” She jumps a voice she hadn’t heard in almost a year, but could never forget, “You didn’t really think I’d let you go forever did you?” Alex steps into the yard, Mia refuses to turn around, ‘this can’t be real, I’ve fallen asleep.’ tears begin to fall ‘just wake up.’ Alex’s massive hands grasp her shoulders, “Baby, its time to come home now.” She shudders but is able to keep from falling apart. Alex kneels beside her, “I’m not leaving without you.” His lips brush her ear, and a small cry escapes her throat. “Its ok baby.” He kisses her cheek gently, “Lets go in the house.” He pulls her to her feet and walks her to the back door. She is paralyzed by her fear and falls limp in his arms. Alex opens the door and lifts Mia into his arms, carrying her across the threshold. He crosses the kitchen and sets her in a chair; he sits opposite of her, glaring. “What exactly did you have in mind when you came here?” his face begins to turn a light shade of red, but he keeps from loosing his temper, “Did you think I’d just let you go and not try to bring you home?” he leans in, “I’ve known you were here the whole time. You needed your space , I understand; but your getting a little to friendly with the neighborhood boys.” Mia’s face twists with a sob, Alex cocks his head to the left, “You thought I wouldn’t keep an eye on you?” he sits back in his chair, “Idiot.” He springs to his feet and bounds towards the open door, slamming it shut. “What did you think you were doing with him?” Alex spins around and rushes towards Mia, “Do you really think I’m that horrible?” He pulls her up by her shoulders and shoves her toward the hallway, she gives a fearful yell, “Please.” She tries to turn around but he shoves her further down the hall, “Please don’t hurt me.” she cries. He grabs her by the arm, she allows him to lead her toward the stairs, “I’m not going to hurt you.” He stops and kisses her on the neck, “I’ve missed you , baby.” he whispers in her ear. A puzzled expression is frozen on her face, “What?” He takes her face gently in his hands and gazes at her for a moment, “You are so beautiful.” He kisses her passionately and she pushes him away. She can see his rage, “I’m sorry baby.” she tries to back away from him, but he grabs her again, dragging her up the stairs. “Alex, I’m sorry.” She tries to kiss him, but he slaps her away. She fights uselessly to get away from him. He pulls her down the hall and pushes her into the bedroom. She stumbles and falls into the nightstand, “Stop it!” she sobs uncontrollably. He’s towering over her, the rage fades from him. He falls to his knees and scoops her into his arms, pulling her close to his heaving chest, and begins to cry himself, “Why do you do this?” He raises his hand and caresses her neck “I love you so much.” Mia hears the rage returning to his voice, his fingers harden around her throat. “You make me so angry.” his hand tightens and she gasps for air, “Why do you hurt me like this.” He raises from the floor pulling Mia up with him, and tosses her onto the bed. Mia gasps and tries wriggle away. Alex grabs her foot and drags her back to him, one knee on the bed the other foot planted on the floor. “Where you going baby?” He grins ear to ear, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He bends over her holding himself up with one arm, still holding her ankle, kissing her collar bone. “I’ve missed you so much.” His hand travels up her leg to her thigh, “You missed me, didn’t you?” he kisses her chest. Mia fights back her tears, “Yes, I’ve missed you too.” her voice shakes. Alex looks down at her confused,
“You really thought I’d let you go, didn’t you?” he gave a little laugh. He gazed at her lovingly, “Baby, I could never let you go.” and he kisses her trembling lips. Mia tries to push him away, he pins her arms to the bed. “I am your husband. You don’t leave! I love you and I can’t make it without you.” He weeps, his head buried in her neck. A rush of guilt swept over Mia, followed by anger. How can I feel guilty for leaving? After everything he makes me feel guilty for running? Still she wanted so badly to comfort him. She kissed his cheek, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t do this. I can’t be with you.” Alex lifts his head and glares at her, eyes full of rage. “You can’t be with me?” He sits up on his knees, glaring down at her. He fumbles with his pants, “You can’t be with your husband?” Mia tries to pull away from him, but he grabs her pants tearing them open and pulling her free from them. She fights him knowing full well what he intends to do, “Don’t!” she cries, still fighting him. Alex shakes his head, “You’re MY wife.” One massive hand around her delicate throat, the other fighting to keep her legs separated. He leans onto her, forcing his way in. Unable to continue fighting, she begins sobbing. His grip on her throat tightens, “I’m trying to make love to you.” his voice filled with sympathy. He is unable to control himself, and really doesn’t care to. Her tears continue, he releases her neck slaps her. “Stop crying!” he barks at her. She’s able to stop sobbing, but the tears won’t cease. He turns her face away from his, heaving himself further into her limp body. Mia turns her mind away from him, to memories of him before he had become such a monster. His groans of ecstasy bring her back to reality, and she feels sick. Alex completely ignores her misery, kisses her collar bone gently. “I love you baby.” he whispers softly.