Right after our honeymoon ended, my husband took off his belt, wanting to teach me “the rules of being a wife.” I calmly took off my outer shirt, put on my boxing clothes and gloves: “Perfect timing. I need a training partner!”
Right after our honeymoon ended, my husband took off his belt, wanting to teach me “the rules of being a wife.”
I calmly took off my outer shirt, put on my boxing clothes and gloves: “Perfect timing. I need a training partner!”
The belt buckle struck the bedroom lamp before it struck me, and the sharp metallic crack sounded like a gunshot. My husband smiled as if our marriage had finally reached the moment he had been waiting for.
“Now that the honeymoon is over,” Ethan said, wrapping the leather around his fist, “you need to learn the rules of being a wife.”
Part 1: The Honeymoon is Over
We had returned from Hawaii three hours earlier.
My suitcase still stood open beside the bed, filled with bright dresses, sunscreen, and photographs of us pretending to be happy.
During the trip, Ethan had complained about my clothes, corrected how I spoke to waiters, and demanded access to my bank account. I had mistaken control for insecurity.
The belt in his hand corrected that mistake.
