"Descent into Darkness"

Babe, I'm tired, Ashley said, hoping against hope that Zach would understand, that he would see the exhaustion etched on her face and relent. But he didn't. Instead, his expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're tired?" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. "You think you're tired? You have no idea what tired is. You're just lazy, that's all you are." Ashley's heart sank as Zach slammed his fist on the counter, making her flinch. She had grown accustomed to his outbursts, but that didn't mean she wasn't scared. She got up, her movements automatic, and began to do the dishes, trying to escape into the mundane task. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought about where she should be. She should be in college, pursuing her dreams, not stuck in this tiny apartment with a man who was slowly destroying her. She should be laughing with friends, exploring new places, and experiencing new things. But instead, she was here, trapped in this toxic relationship, with no clear escape in sight. A few minutes passed, and Ashley was lost in her thoughts, her mind numb to the world around her. She was so focused on her own misery that she didn't even hear Zach approach her. But she felt his presence, sensed his eyes on her, and her skin crawled. "I'm hard, babe," he growled, his voice low and menacing, as he stood behind her. Ashley flinched, her heart racing, as Zach reached out and groped her. She tried to move away, but he held her in place, his grip like a vice. "Ah, come on," he said, his voice dripping with condescension, as he rubbed her against her will. "Don't be like that." And then, in a flash of movement, Zach pushed her onto the counter, his body pinning hers down. Ashley's heart was racing, her breath caught in her throat, as she realized that she was trapped, that she was at Zach's mercy. And in that moment, she knew that she had to get out, that she had to find a way to escape, no matter what it took.