The clock on the nightstand read 11:15 pm in large green neon. She closed her eyes, and prayed for sleep to set in.

 At 12:30 am footsteps echoed from the marble staircase, making their way toward the bedroom. She rolled on her side and tightly pulled the covers around her shoulders.

 

The door opened and she peeked out from her facade to catch his wobbly silhouette on the wall, illuminated by the fall moon. She quickly shut her eyes again,maintaining the stillness of a corpse. A familiar stench penetrated the room and sickened her stomach.

 He undressed at the bedside and slid in beside her. The odor became stronger as he loosened the covers around her and moved in closer. She felt his naked body press into her.

 

His large callused hand untied her pajama bottoms. His fingers slowly crept around the edges of her panties.  She tried to gently push his hand away only causing him to become more forceful. She didn't speak a word, nor resist his advances. He shimmied off her bottoms and panties and rolled her onto her back as if she were a rag doll. Her stomach churned as he breathed directly in her face. She wasn't sure which sickened her more, the volitile smell of sour whiskey mixed with stale cigarettes, or her helplessness to stop it all.

 

She could feel her stomach acid burning her esophagus. The contents of this evening's reheated dinner sat like a lump, in her throat. She knew she might not be able to hold it down.

 She moved her hips in sync with his and began touching him to help him along, hoping that things would soon be over. She did this for several minutes without avail. She then sunk her fingernails deep into his leathery back and felt his skin break beneath her perfectly manicured nails.

 

This seemed to do the trick for both. He, enjoying the pain,became erect and proudly claimed what he thought was rightfully his, and she retreated to the hollow corners of her mind oblivious to her numbness or surroundings. He forcefully violating her. He tried to kiss her but she turned her head away from the sickening vile odor.

 

Minutes later his snoring pierced her ear and the weight of his body made it hard for her to breathe. She slipped out from under his entangled grasp, dressed, and went into the bathroom to vomit.

 

Making her way to the sink to wash up she looked into the mirror and ran her delicate fingers across her tiny flushed face. The reflection of her diamond wedding band caught her attention. Silently, she hung her head and sobbed.