Flash Fiction- Gaslight

 "There", she said, "how was that?"

"Same as usual," he replied, "shi..."

"Don't say that word!" she interrupted. "I'm sick of that word!!!"

He sat there, paralysed from the neck down- old age and multiple sclerosis had seen to him. He could no longer move a muscle, yet sadly, his razor like, acrid, spiteful speech still remained. She spooned the food into his mealy mouth, dribble falling onto his arm. 

She'd dealt with these 'remarks' or purely put, atom bombs, that were delivered on a minutely basis for 62 years. He'd provided a home- a good one, and they never had to worry about money- but to her that was a bare minimum. They were isolated in the countryside. Nobody could hear you scream... and believe me this happened on an all too regular basis. 

"Shiiii", he began again, reveling in her disdain, reveling in her shame.

She knew it would be over soon. Hopefully. She'd calculated that only a few years would be left before her own demise. A bit of her wished she'd die before him and he'd be left exposed- left to rot. Maybe a fox would... nooo she chastised herself. For better or worse.

There had been at least some better. They did actually love each other at the start. However, his sly ways started to show pretty quickly. When her friends- or what was left of them, he'd seen to it that she was taken away- it's for your own good- were having babies and starting families, he steadfast refused- even laughed in her face at his own defiance. I wanted a baby. All I wanted was a baby. Whilst he was at work, she'd stand in the 'nursery' and cry for hours on end. She'd wanted to escape then too...

As the days passed the insults grew, arrows, daggers, guns, bullets streaming into her brain and body- each one removing a little bit of her being. Then there was the time when he locked her in the summer house. Three days. Three days. She eventually broke the windows, slicing her arm in the process, but she was far too scared to share with the nursing staff how it actually happened. Her life would be over if she let that slip. She cried that she was okay- the deep gash and her palpitations betrayed her lies though. 

"I said it was shiiiii", he continued. 

"Malcolm please, please, for once please!"

"You heard. Shhhiii"

She didn't know what it was, but something snapped. White noise filled her ears- was it tinitis? 62 years of insults, torture and pain had finally broke this poor camel's back. She shoved the food laden spoon so far down his neck she could feel his stomach lining. Another one followed. And another. More came. Eventually, his mouth was so full it was effectively jammed shut. His eyes bulged with panic and pain. Nostrils flared desperately gasping for air. 

She sat back. With the tiniest, evilest grin, grabbed a hold of his nose and clamped it shut. Satisfaction. She waited. Silently. Waited for the convulsions to stop. It longer than she expected, but eventually his food filled mouth stopped vibrating. It was over. She sat and wept- cried a thousand rivers...

"Here we go Mr and Mrs Potts- the keys to your new house- I hope you'll be very happy here! The previous owners took great care of it I think you'll find- even put in a new kitchen!"

"Oh Mike", Sonia said lovingly gesturing to the view outside, "it's amazing- I think we've found our forever home! Throw open those back doors and let Milo explore". The dog bounded outside and was soon digging his way through the flower beds. 

"I can't believe we actually got this place! And what a bargain!" Mike replied. "Lots of room for Milo in the back and you know what, I can see a couple of kids running about before long Son".

Clinking glasses echoed- the sound bouncing off the hard surfaces. 

"Oh Mike. I know I'm going to be so..." Sonia tailed off as she looked through the sliding doors. 

Her glass smashed on the floor. Champagne spread and dotted on the tiles. She froze. 

"Mike... it's...", Sonia fell to the ground; the breath left her body. Mike clasped a hand to his mouth when he realised what was in the dog’s mouth.

"Sonia! Sonia! Sonia?"