Chapter 6

• Chapter 6 Damn Depression!
• Megan Owen
• When Mackenzie left the room, an inexplicable emptiness took over my being. I felt an invisible force, a kind of shield that had protected me, vanished with his departure. I looked around, the room became an immense and desolate space. Although he was a stranger, his words resonated with a truth: I had become a permissive person, subject to Mason 's will. I had allowed him to exert his dominion over me, even allowing his violence to reach unimaginable levels, to the point of killing our unborn child. Who in their right mind would accept such a situation?
• That night, despite being in the hospital, sleep escaped me. Restlessness kept me awake, and fear enveloped me in constant anxiety. At dawn, I asked for voluntary discharge, feeling a mixture of relief and unease. My heart skipped a beat when I discovered that Sawyer had paid the hospital bill. But what surprised me even more was the envelope he left for me, in elegant and carefully written calligraphy:
• "Megan."
• Curiosity made me tremble with nerves as I tore up the envelope. Inside, I found a sum of money that exceeded any expectations, accompanied by a card. Sawyer 's cunning became evident; I knew that the card he had given me earlier might be lost. His gesture, despite the surprise it caused me, left me with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. The unexpected generosity made me question everything I had thought I knew about him and myself.
• I took a deep breath and put the envelope in my pocket. I didn't consider myself an interested woman, but the truth is that I didn't have much going for me, so the money came at just the right time.
• I went out onto the avenue and took a taxi, asking the driver to take me to my mansion. He had to face the problems he had left behind. I didn't have anything with me, not even my ID, but I knew precisely where to find some spare keys. I went to the back of the house and, in a pot where a pom plant grew, I found the keys hidden.
• I went back to the front door and tried to open it, but the key didn't fit in the lock. A chill ran through my body. I tried again, even with the back door, but it didn't work either. Shit! What was happening? My mind was filled with uneasiness.
• With no other options, I rang the bell insistently, but it was evident that Mason was not there. I huddled by the entrance, hugging myself in an attempt to find some comfort. I had no choice but to wait for him to return. Maybe the keys I had found weren't the right ones, or maybe something else was wrong. The feeling of helplessness intensified with each passing minute.
• Hours passed that felt like an eternity, and my despair grew with every minute. Finally, when Mason 's car appeared on the path of the mansion, I got up with effort, my legs sore from prolonged immobility. I sighed deeply, relieved but fearful of what was to come.
• Mason got out of the car and when he saw me, his fury was instantaneous.
• "What are you doing here, Megan?!" His scream was so intense that it almost exploded in my ears.
• "Well, I live here, Mason," I replied with a tone of resignation.
• "You were alive, Megan! Because you don't live here anymore. I want you to get away immediately. You have nothing to do in this place."
• His words were like sharp knives that sank into my heart, causing me a sharp pain. However, in the midst of that agony, I found a spark of courage and looked at him with defiance.
• "Alive, Mason! This is my house," I shouted, the fury burning my voice. My house. Even if it hurts, I also invested money in this. "So, open the door for me, damn it!”
• Mason frowned and ran a hand over his head, his frustration evident. At that moment, I clenched my jaw and fists, ready to face whatever came my way. If he was going to try to hurt me, I would do so knowing that I would not give up without a fight.
• I was prepared to take his blows, my body tense and my spirit determined not to give in.
• "Get out, Megan, get out before I do something stupid," he ordered in an angry voice.
• "What, Mason? Are you going to hit me again? Are you going to humiliate me as always? You can't cause me any more pain. Now I'm going to fight for what's mine."
• "Nothing is yours. Two days ago, you left, you left home, and you no longer have the right to do anything. My lawyer will call you to sign the divorce. Now, get the hell out of here."
• His words were like a cold stab, and I felt my legs begin to tremble. I shook my head, unable to accept the reality it imposed on me.
• "Are you crazy? You can't do this to me."
• "Get out!" He shouted in a definite tone.
• The echo of her scream echoed in my mind as I was confronted with the cruel truth: I had no place in my own home. Despite the pain and humiliation, I knew I had to stand my ground, even though the world seemed to be falling apart around me.
• "No!"
• Mason grabbed my arm and began to drag me down the path, while I struggled with all my might, trying to free myself and prevent him from hurting me further.
• "Let go! It's my home! I cried out in despair."
• Suddenly, Amelie Mackenzie, Mason 's lover and Sawyer 's sister, got out of the car. She wore a short pregnancy robe, her hair pulled back precisely, high heels, and dark sunglasses. When she saw me, he lowered her glasses and inspected me from top to bottom with a contemptuous look. I was devastated, my face was still scared by Mason 's blows.
• "Didn't you listen to my husband? Get out of here, dragged," she said disdainfully.
• "What is this woman doing?" I asked, directing my hatred towards them.
• Amelie approached with firm steps, taking off her sunglasses in an imposing way.
• "I'm the new lady of this house, and don't worry about your things, beggar." The garbage truck has already taken them. There's nothing left of you here. "Go with your lover."
• I shook my head, feeling more and more out of control. I started walking in circles, pulling my hair in an attempt to process what was happening.
• "This can't be, it can't be," I though.
• Mason, exhausted from seeing me in that state, approached me again and, as if treating me like a criminal, grabbed my arm with such rudeness that it made me suffer even more. The worst thing was that Amelie approved of the abuse and laughed at me, enjoying my humiliation in my own home. Every laugh of his was just another blow, a cruel reminder of the total loss of my dignity.
• "Get out, you dirty!" Mason shouted as he dragged me to the end of the mansion path.
• "No! Please don't! I implored, my voice broke. A nervous breakdown enveloped me, and I fell face down on the cold cement." Mason closed the gate of the mansion with a thunderous bang, leaving me alone. There I stood, pounding the air, suffering the deepest pain my heart had ever known.
• "Damn you both! Damn! " I screamed in despair.
• I got up from the floor, pulled my hair up with trembling hands, and wiped away my tears. With my hands in my pockets, I began to walk. Before we got to the main road, I remembered Mackenzie's money and card. I took out the envelope and pulled out a bill.
• I took a taxi and headed to a cheap hotel, knowing that the money I had wouldn't last long. I arrived in a neighborhood that was a horrible reflection of my situation, but it was what I could afford with the tight budget I had calculated in my mind.
• The woman who received me looked at me with concern and curiosity.
• "What have they done to you, girl? What horrible hole did they get you out of? "
• "Rent me a room, please," I managed to say in a broken voice.
• "A man hit you, right? Welcome to the club. There are many like you here, who are beaten by their husbands and thrown out on the street for their lover. Poor baby."
• I was silent, taking in her words. Was it so common for a woman to be in my situation? I shook my head, trying to clear my mind.
• I paid the woman for a week's lodging, and she handed me the keys.
• "You're not alone, honey. You're not alone."
• I nodded gratefully, and headed for the small, unkempt room that touched me. I turned on the lights, and although the place was in poor condition, it was a relief to be away from Mason. I was amazed to think that Amelie considered it a fortune to have it.
• At first, Mason had been a wonderful being, but over time he revealed his true nature, showing the kind of cruel person, he really was.
• A couple of days passed, and depression enveloped me like a heavy shadow. I felt invisible to the world, and the pain of loneliness was almost physical. My chest and stomach were in constant discomfort, compounded by the lack of food. My body had become a mere shell of bones, and my physical appearance was a reflection of the misery that consumed me. Death, with its cold certainty, seemed a release from my anguish.
• Damn depression!