Notes

You: Hi there, I'm Christine, 20! As for how I look: I have brown shoulder length hair, my eyes and eyebrows are the same as my hair. My skin is really pale but in the summer I have a pink tan line across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose. I am pretty tall for a girl, at 5'10''. My body type is skinny/fit. My legs are the most toned part of me.

You never got along with your brother, he was cruel and narcissistic but somehow he managed to score me as his wife. We dated for 3 years and then we got married last spring. While dating he was nice to me, convincing me he was a decent person but all of that changed last year. Tom's true colors showed. He began to be controlling and abusive. You watched me go from being an active and happy person to a shell. My family is in a different state and I haven't been able to see them for a while now. Whenever I am at your families events I am timid and shy. It's heartbreaking to watch. Tom invited you today to watch a football game. You are settling in when I come home from work in my scrubs as I work as a nurse. I look tired and worn down "Christine! good you're home!" Tom yells out harshly. (Please continue after describing yourself!)

Stranger: (reading)

You: (Thanks)

Stranger: I'm Michael, 26, one year younger than my brother Tom, and growing up i was always his punching bag, so it inspired me to a life of fitness, and i was in much better shape than he is, my hair is short and messy and i wear modest but expensive clothing as i need to look my best as an executive for a corporation. My body is lean and muscular, and i have a bit of body hair neatly trimmed where it counts, and a dazzling white smile. i look like what your husband could have if he applied himself.

I look up when Tom yells at you and smile politely, noticing how tired you look I am surprised he's not being more gentle toward you, and it makes me cringe internally

You: "You were supposed to be home earlier and get my dinner ready. Jake is over and he is hungry " He yells out. "I know I'm sorry Hun, I got held up, you know how it is lately, no one wants to work these shifts." I sigh trying to reason with him and go to the kitchen. I tune out my thoughts, going into autopilot, getting some stuff from the fridge.

You: (OOPS ignore the name)

Stranger: i look over at him and say "that's not cool dude, why dont you just own up and say you're too hungry to make yourself a snack? Don't blame that on me" i throw a pillow at him the game comes back on and he tells me to shut the fuck up, and i sigh and get up to see if I can give you a hand

You: You watch my shoulders tense when you approach me. I am rather timid, my posture slouching as I roll up my sleeves and wash my hands. "Oh hey Michael, how are you? It's nice seeing you" I say gently, looking at you, forcing a smile

Stranger: "Christine, hey... I'm fine...." I say and pause for a moment, then clear my throat "look I'm just going to come out and say it... I dont like the way he speaks to you" I inhale sharply and let it sink in then continue "and i really think you deserve someone that will lift you up, not tear you down"

You: I freeze up, cutting some vegetables and deboning chicken "I ... I am doing just fine, it's alright" I tell you carefully, worried that Tom will overhear "I heard you are going to the Diabetes conference in Calgary for your company? I'll be giving a talk there on the impact of GCMs on average A1C scores on patients with type 1." I change the subject carefully

Stranger: i notice how quick you change the subject and sigh smiling warmly "Yeah... I know Christine. That's why I requested to represent our company. As busy as my schedule is, it's the only way I could figure out how to be there to support you, since Tom will be busy with his fantasy football league that weekend" I roll my eyes

You: "That's really sweet of you..." Tom steps in, grabbing another beer from the fridge. "Michael, what are you doing here?" He pushes you shoulder "come on, lets go watch the game"

Stranger: I stay rigid as he shoves my shoulder, and i brush his hand away "In a minute, relax... I'm in the middle of a conversation here" I nod toward you, and see how your body language stiffens as you wait for his response

You: I get anxious that Tom will catch on what we were talking about "It's alright, we will catch up later" I force a smile. He pulls you back. When I serve you food I am dead silent, just making sure you both have access to anything you need. I clean up the kitchen and then go upstairs, only now able to change out of of my work clothes. I shower, taking my time, it's one of the only times I feel like I can get time for myself. Tom scoffs when he hears the water running "I swear, it's like she doesn't understand how water bills work" he laughs with his chest

Stranger: I shake my head "last time I checked, she's the one paying the water bills Tom..." I sneer and look up to the staircase, imaginging you soaking beneath a cascade of water finally at peace and it emboldens me to continue "I gotta say dude, i think you need to respect Christine more... she's a wonderful person and you really shit on her alot"

You: "Oh she's not all that innocent, you wouldn't believe the way she behaves in private. No innocent woman looks the way she does naked" He laughs too loudly and eats up the food I made hungrily. I didn't even eat myself, it's been difficult having an appetite lately. I shower for a while, at least 30 minutes. I pull on some pajama pants and a long sleeve, braiding my hair and cuddling up in bed, enjoying the soft sheets and some privacy

Stranger: hearing him say that makes my imagination wander, and i think about how you might behave private... and naked. I stay in this daydream for a few minutes, until Tom notices i have a smirk and wipes his mouth off wih the back of his hand "Hey did you hear me? I'm talking to you" He snaps his fingers and brings me back to reality

You: He downs his beer, getting tipsier by the minute. The more he drinks, the louder he gets, yelling at the tv. It's awkward since this isn't even a party, its just the two of you

Stranger: I finally speak up "Hey... Tom... they cant hear you in the tv dipshit" i say and finish my own beer "I think i'm done for the night, and honestly I think you are too" i say standing up and going to take his beer away, which he fights and spills some on himself

You: He is rather wasted, it is easy to see how he might get when drunk. I stay upstairs but then hear something. He basically passed out on the couch. I come down cautiously and frown seeing the mess. "i'm sorry, he's been really upset after being demoted"

Stranger: I shake my head "no its my fault, i'll get all this cleaned up... honestly it's for the best he is passed out, i dont think he would have let you get much sleep as loud as he was" I smile and clean up the empty bottles and take your empty plate to the kitchen. "you dont have to apologize for him... anyway i really appreciate you letting me stay the night, you're shaving so much time off my commute tomorrow, the new account should be all but locked in, if it goes well maybe i'll stop back by tomorrow evening and we can celebrate" I smile warmly "you should wear your hair like that more often by the way..."

You: I get nervous "Michael?" I pause, trying to muster up the courage to tell you I am in trouble but I can't seem to find the words "Can you not tell Tom I am the reason you are going to the conference?" I ask gently and help out with cleaning. I put a blanket over Tom, being careful around him. "I put fresh sheets in the guest room" I tell you

Stranger: I nod softly "don't worry Christine, i know he wouldn't be very happy if he found out" I say quietly as we finish cleaning up. we head upstairs together and you show me to the guest room. i thought of the alternate reality where i followed you into your bedroom instead... my heart began to pound but i pushed the thought away "Thank you so much Christine. You really do too much. Please, go get some rest now" I say and reach out to pull you in for a hug. It's long, and soft, and intimate...

You: I wince when you touch me, it's very quiet but you can hear it well enough, I wasn't the same happy girl you knew before, something changed in me. I hug back but then get anxious again and pull away "It's alright, you're not work to me, if you need a place to stay I... we.. will always provide it. There is a towel in the bathroom for you. Goodnight" I nod a bit and leave you

Stranger: I look toeard the bedroom door when you've closed it. "that fucking asshole has really done a number on her" i think to myself then head into the shower myself. I strip naked and step into the hot water, thinking about you in the next room, wishing i could just join you in bed and hold you and tell you everything would be okay. I make sure my shower is short to not waste any water, and dry off with the towel, then wrap it around my waist as i go to head back across the hall to the guest room

You: I come downstairs trying to see if Tom will get up. I gently rub his back "Hun? Let's go upstairs, you need to brush your teeth". (Maybe play him so we can contrast the two characters)

Stranger: Tom had been snoring loudly until you woke him up with a snort "Hmm? What... okay i got it enough" he says brushing your hand away sloppily. He rises to his feet and leans on you for support, nearly toppling you both over

You: "Come on, you need to help me here" I try to stay positive as we get up the stairs. I get him to the bed, getting him undressed and trying to put his pajamas on. You can hear everything going on

Stranger: He drags his feet until falling into the bed which squeaks loudly. "Ive got it" he slurs and unbuttons his pants and kicks them off wildly, they fly off his leg and lands on a bedside lamp nearly knocking it over if you hadnt caught it in time. He pulls his shirt off and throws it as well, landing on your head. I hear him laugh as i lay in bed, my fists ball and clench as i hear him laughing at you

You: I make sure he settles in and then I tuck him in bed, not bothering him to brush his teeth. I sit in my reading chair near by, not wanting to be in bed with him when he's so wasted. I open my book to read, coming to terms with the fact Ill fall asleep in the chair