Provoked Read Free

favorite diner in New York she used to see daily. Beth confided about the abuse from her boyfriend before Basia left the States. She’d given Beth the list of options but now wondered if she’d followed through. Basia hadn’t. She’d hoped Darek’s behavior was temporary or he’d leave. He didn’t.
                  He’d changed; for the worse. He hadn’t worked since they married. Basia had to hire a new guide to replace him. He’d come home high and smelled of booze. It sickened her; just the smell of him. Then he’d put her down, called her names; degraded her. She shrugged him off as she searched for a way to divorce him, without giving him half her wealth. He didn’t deserve any of her father’s hard-earnings.
                  Two days before she discovered his plan to kill her, he became physically violent. He gripped her arms and pushed her to the floor. He dragged her by her hair closer to him and demanded a blow-job. He unzipped his pants and let them drop to the floor.
                  “Get down on your knees. It’s your wifely duty.”
                  Basia lifted herself to her knees. He moved forward, smiled, and closed his eyes. She slammed her hands against his chest in a sudden push and ran down the hallway. She felt his hand on the back of her shirt and the sound as it ripped from her body. Basia made it to her bedroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it. She stood with her back against the door and attempted to catch her breath. The emotional abuse had worn her down but now it had become physical. She’d had enough of him. He pounded on the door with such rage.
    One tear led to another as she spoke, “You’ve changed. You’re not the man I fell in love with. You don’t even want to guide or hike anymore. You just want to drink with your buddies. You don’t love me, not like you did in the beginning. You don’t respect me. You don’t want me. You don’t even want a wife. You just want an obedient whore. Well, honey, I’m not her. Get the hell out of my house!”
    She heard him through the door. His tone scared her. He’d completely lost it. Basia’s body shook. He was out of control.
    “Don’t ever think you’ll make a fool of me. I’m not leaving and neither are you. The only way you go out that front door is in a body bag, you stupid bitch!”
    To add more fear, his fist hit the door and created a huge hole. Basia grabbed her gun from her bedside table. She pointed the barrel through the hole he’d just made.
    “I asked you to leave, Darek. I won’t think twice to pull the trigger.”
    She heard the front door slam.
     
    The next day she arrived home from work to the aroma of dinner. Darek met her at the door with a single rose.
    “I’m sorry, Moja kochana. It was the booze last night. I promise to give that part of my life up. It won’t happen again. You’ll never see those guys around here again. I’m going back to work after the holidays. I hope you’ll forgive me. I’d like to spend the holidays with my wife.”
    Basia stood in silence. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Then he broke down in tears. She chewed on her lower lip. She’d called her lawyer earlier that day, and he confirmed what she already knew. If she filed for divorce, Darek would be entitled to half her wealth. Perhaps his pathetic outburst would buy her some time to find another way. She hoped she could talk to him over the holidays, if he remained sober. She didn’t want to stay married to him. It was too late. Too much had changed. Perhaps she could come to a settlement.
    “You ever speak to me like you did last night, or one of your buddies shows up, I’m filing for divorce.”
    She excused herself to take a hot shower before dinner. She was slightly impressed when she reached her bedroom that the door had been replaced. She started the shower and then realized she forgot her purse at the front door. She’d wanted to call her