Last Meal

Trigger Warning: Spousal abuse, violence, other sensitive themes, alcohol use.

Demetri wrapped his fingers around the fork, making himself choke down the burnt food that Stephi was serving. Her cooking had never been world class and no one would accuse her of trying to better herself in the kitchen or… the bedroom. His wife was perfectly content with being mediocre. She was a thin shell of a woman with dirty, stringy brown hair which was always in some kind of bun or ponytail. It hid the pool of grease from only showering when she felt like it. Her face was scarred from acne as a teenager and she caked it in makeup when she went out. At home, sweats and baggy clothes were her normal. Stephi could’ve been described as a vixen once upon a time when her hair shone and her skin, while not perfectly flawless, smelled of acne cream, when he had first met her. But more than her looks, she had a glow. A beauty from the inside that enhanced her natural beauty.

 Life had beaten it out of her and as he looked at her from across the kitchen, he realized that he had beaten it out of her. Both emotionally and physically. She hid the bruises well, but the emotional injuries were evident if you knew how to look. He had forbidden her from contacting family and friends, telling her they were bad influences. Before they met in college, she had been a party girl, celebrating life every night with her friends and binge drinking all her pain away. It wasn’t good for her and the people in her life acted with little concern. They just laughed off her drunken antics or calls from jail. She’ll get it out of her system, they always said, and no one took any kindness to him when he pointed out these obvious issues. YOLO and all that stupid shit.

But from the first time he met her at a party that his date dragged him to, he had been trying to save her. She was drunk and falling down, slurring her words and begging for help from everyone around her. She was reaching out to complete strangers, himself and his date, Fiona included. Fiona had sneered and wrenched her arm out of Stephi’s needy hands, everyone else had a mixed reaction of laughing and looking disgusted. Only he had reached for her, helping her to her feet, getting her to the couch. It had caused a nasty argument with Fiona, a pretty blue eyed blonde with a slight crooked smile. She threw a screaming fit as Demetri helped Stephi to the nearest bedroom and onto the bed. He had moved her to his side and yelled at Fiona to get him a damp cloth. To her credit, she did and was even a little softer when she saw Demetri run the cloth over Stephi’s forehead. Stephi smiled up at him, an absolute stunner of a smile and he was gone. Fiona had sensed the chemistry as well so she took her leave and while Demetri felt a little bad, he knew his life was going to change. 

“Do you remember when we met?” He asked her and noticed her suddenly stiffen. 

“Yes,” she deadpanned, the emotion had long left her voice, she sounded more automation than human nowadays. 

What have I done to her? He thought to himself and kept gulping down the salty mashed potatoes. He wanted to gag when the char in the potatoes  hit the back of his throat. He took a breath and kept soldering on while eating.

“Why?” She asked when he hadn’t continued the conversation. 

“I was just thinking about the first time we looked into each others’ eyes.”

She let out a small chuckle, “Yeah, me too, there were two of you.” 

“I love you.”

“Ok.” She responded. 

“I LOVE YOU!” He yelled and it caused her to turn around with fear in her eyes. But there was something new, something that he hadn’t seen from her. Hatred. He could identify it easily as he saw it sometimes when he looked in the mirror. He hated himself too. 

“I love you too,” her voice was soft and intimate. He smiled at her smugly, “til the end.” 

What an odd thing to say, his eyes now focused on the blackened chicken. 

He was almost done with his plate and then he would have a beer on the sofa. He couldn’t wait for the various game shows he would watch. He loved that he knew most of the questions asked and would easily win if he had the inclination to do such a thing. As it were, he was just sitting it out to give other people a chance at winning. He was a saint, just look at the way he met his wife. Just look at the roof he provided for her by being a salesman, the car in the driveway, the rock on her finger worth three grand. In fact, thinking of it, she should be dressing better. At least at home. He would buy her a nice dress and maybe some girly hair mask thing to help her hair look better. Some makeup to cover the scars, but not too much or she would look like a woman of the night. 

“I’m going to buy you a new dress.” 

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? Why can’t I do something nice for you once in a while?”

She stayed silent and he felt his anger take over. 

“I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! ARE YOU STUPID OR DEAF OR BOTH?” 

He was shaking with rage and before he knew it, he stood up from his chair, knocking it over and causing Stephi to turn around in a defensive stance. 

“Thank you,” she was shaking and tears welled in her eyes. 

“You’re welcome,” he said, still angry. He felt like a string pulled too tight on a guitar, he was primed to snap. But he picked up the chair and went to the fridge, pulling a beer out and drinking it. Half the bottle was gone and he didn’t notice the taste until he pulled back. 

“What the..?” that was as far as he would go, his body was now burning and crackling with pain. He couldn’t breathe and as he gasped for air, he saw her smile. 

“Steph..” he tried to croak, but he could feel his vision blacken as he was wheezing like a fish out of water. Soon, he was gone. 

Stephi felt a cold relief wash over her. 

The cops would be here soon and she had just a few seconds to call her lawyer. 

Revenge had been served today in the form of a cold beer. Demetri had the last meal he deserved and died by what he loved. Tears ran down her eyes. There were other avenues, better ones probably, and she knew regret would come, but for now, looking at his handsome face with his eyes wide opened and full of pain from his last moments, she only felt free.