⚠️⚠️Trigger Warning! Depictions of domestic violence, blood, abusive relationships, poisoning, and straight up murder! Read at your own risk!!⚠️⚠️

Third Person P.O.V.

Maria Lewis was a reserved child growing up. She had a beauty that had never graced her family before, the beauty that you would find in a rose. She had a gentle and kind heart, curly, dark brown hair, smooth, mocha skin, deep brown eyes, and the straightest, whitest teeth anyone in the small county had seen.

She had grown men on their knees, begging for her hand in marriage, ever since the day she turned eighteen.

Maria always wanted to marry for love, so declining most men came easily. However, when she caught James Reynolds eye, dancing on night at the bar, she wasted no time making her way over. Her family was one of the poorest around, so she figured marrying someone as rich as the man would make her parents proud.

"I've never seen a dress like that. You make it work, my dear, but a woman with beauty such as yourself should be dripping in diamonds." Maria blushed, inching closer to the businessman, using a careful finger to trace along the glass of wine he had bought for her.

"Well, I thank you, kind sir, but my family just can't afford to spend money on such a dress." The man gently grabbed her hand, pulling her knuckles to his lips, pressing a firm kiss into them.

"Well, perhaps you'd like to change that? I'll buy you a dress and you can meet me for dinner on Friday?" Maria let out a soft smile, nodding.

"I'll see you at the store tomorrow?" The man simply shook his head, po pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket.

"Surprise me." Maria looked at the money before smirking.

"You always carry large bills like this around?" Reynolds shrugged, standing and kissing Maria's cheek, setting the money in her hand.

"I can afford to, darling."

~

Maria was standing in a church two years later, in an extravagant white chiffon gown, tailored to fit her just right. The dress showed off her everything just right, from the mermaid style to the beading that pulled into her midriff, a simple accent that made her waist seem smaller.

In her hand, she held a bouquet of highly expensive rose hybrids, and by the end of the day, she would loathe whoever invented the stiletto. All her accessories matched the churt, everything glittering so brightly it almost hurt to look at. From the chandelier to the pillars, James had demanded the best, and thus, the best there was.

The ceremony had been small, just a few close friends and family gathered in a church to witness the marriage. The reception, however, was nothing short of glamorous, with a bunch of socialites and aristocrats gathered together in such a grand hall, not to mention the extremely expensive champagne that Maria had pushed to her lips as she ignored her husband's hand on her thigh.

Maria gave out a soft hum, closing her eyes as the church bells near by rang, just as the clock struck six o'clock PM. She was now Mrs. Maria Reynolds.

~

Maria had grown to love her life of riches. For the most part, of course. She loved hosting parties and having dinners at the Country Club. Her best friend was mostly a fake, but Karen was always down for drinks at the pool.

If she were blonde, the girl would practically be Barbie. Of course, she wasn't made of plastic (she refused whenever her husband offered plastic surgery, always too afraid of getting botched), but when you looked at her life from the outside, she really did have a perfect life.

Of course, her Ken would always get drunk. Like. Really drunk. All the time.

She awaited him that Saturday with a glass of whiskey already sitting in front of the couch. Of course, keeping their two dogs (a blue tick and a greyhound, named Elizabeth and Margarita respectively) out of said drink was the biggest issue. Luckily, Maria had experience with the dogs and had them both in the kitchen with her, watching her as she washed dishes.

"Ria!" The girl turned off the faucet upon her husbands voice and heavy feet in the house, turning and sighing.

"Yes, Dear?" She asked, stepping out into the living room, eyeing the man, who promptly grabbed the glass on the side table, eyeing her as he took a long sip.

"More." He demanded when he finished the glass. Maria raised her eyebrows, hesitantly taking the glass.

"Are you sure? You're drunk off your ass. You can't even stand straight. You should sto-" Before Maria could finish voicing her concerns, she was knocked to the ground. She couldn't tell much of what was happening. She felt sharp pains in her side, the toxic taste of blood in her mouth, and glass from the now broken cup stabbing into the palm of her hand as she tried to back away and sit up.

She wasn't sure how long he beat her, whether his anger faded within a few seconds or whether it was hours before he quit seeing red, but either way, it did hurt like hell when she woke up, crumpled on the floor in the foyer, blood dried on her hand, a trail of the red substance from the common room to her spot.

When she found the courage to get up,  she made her way to their room. It was nothing a red turtleneck, some cute jeans, this studded belt, hair coverage, and a thick layer of makeup couldn't cover. She had to host bingo night at the local nursing home and the last thing she needed was a little old lady investigating her husbands anger issues.

"'Ria? What happened? Are you okay? There's blood all over the floor..." The girl glanced at her husband.

"O-oh... Yeah. I'm fine, Darling. You... It was my fault. It's okay."

"Did... Did I do that?" Maria chewed on her lip.

"Oh, God, Ria... I'm so sorry. I... I'm really sorry, baby..." She exhaled, setting a finger on his lips.

"Shh... It's okay, James. Like I said, it was my fault. I... I told you to stop drinking." He nodded.

"I see how drunk me would hate that..." He stepped closer and Maria stepped back, taking another one as she saw the slight fury that passed through his eyes before it was masked with hurt.

"L-look... I'm... I have to go to church..." She attempted walking out, but he grasped her wrist (tight), the action causing her to wince.

"You've never gone to church before." Maria gasped, noticing the murderous gaze in his eyes.

"Well, I'm going today... Jenny from the Country Club invited me," That was a lie, "Then were going for lunch." That wasn't.

Her husband eyed her before squeezing her wrist and throwing it back at her.

"Fine. But come home right after." She nodded, grabbing her black booties and heading out.

"Oh, and Ria?" The girl stopped short, grabbing the keys to her Cadillac, remote starting the car.

"Call the cleaners, would you? I might just get the entire carpet changed with the mess you made." She nodded, biting her lip and scurrying out the door.

~

She used to attend church when she was little, with her mom and her dad. She always wore a cross around her neck. She just hadn't gone turned to prayer any time recently.

She sat in the back pew, socializing with some frequent fliers who had never seen her before, and some newer people who had no idea what they were doing.

This was where she had gotten married. She remembered standing at the altar, her hands in James', saying her vows as she promised to love him 'till death do them part. Now, she hoped she didn't end up doing the parting.

It was soon noon, Maria knew, listening to the bells in the steeple chime, signaling to worshipers that it was time to come to church. She stood and bowed her head, praying with the Baptist. Praying that something would go right for her. Praying she could gather strength to tell someone about her abusive husband.

Praying that someone would see. Praying for a sign.

~

A couple years later, Maria got her sign.

It came in the form of two little lines on a pregnancy test.

She wouldn't tell her husband. Instead, she found a better way out.

Arsenic.

Her body was littered with bruises, caked in makeup, wearing the best forms of coverage for her body: sweater dresses, turtlenecks, over shirts... Anything that would cover every bruise on her body. She didn't want her baby to come into a life like that.

However, she also didn't want to raise the baby as she had been raised; poor, and living with scraps of food and sleeping on the ground.

So, she decided that killing her husband and removing him from the picture was the best thing to do. For everyone involved.

Arsenic, she had heard, was a good choice. (I watched Forensic Files. I swear I haven't murdered anyone). She was the beneficiary of his large life insurance, and would inherit everything he owned. It was enough for her and her baby to live comfortably until they both passed, maybe longer.

Getting him to take it was easy enough.

He hadn't suspected a thing when she passed him his glass of whiskey.

She went to bed after that, leaving him alone.

Around midnight, she crept downstairs, finding him on the couch. Dead.

She called 911 and told her story; she had given him his usual glass of whiskey before heading off to bed. Nothing out of the ordinary. She woke up when he didn't come to bed and found him. Then she called the police.

No one suspected anything. The doctors simply told her he drank himself to death.

And then she was at the church again.

Her black outfit was simple; no need for extravagant hats or veils or anything like that. Everyone comforted her, offering apologies and condolences. She was given flowers, cards, jewelry, and other 'get well' presents.

She got to see a therapist. A 'grief counselor.'

"Most women I see come in here bawling." Maria stared at the therapist with a blank expression.

"I... I don't feel sad." The female Maria was talking to quirked an eyebrow.

"Really? Then what do you feel?" Maria let out a soft smile, her hand resting on her abdomen.

"Free."

With that, Maria was finally able to talk about everything her husband had done to her.

Maria never dated another man after that. Only women.

She practically raised Susan in the church. She wanted her baby girl to know who had saved her in her time of need.

No. God hadn't saved her. God hadn't shown her what needed to happen.

Maria's saviour was the little Susan herself.

Word Count: 1862

Yo, yo, yo! Look who's back! With Angsty shit!

Kinda rushed and sloppy but hey. That's what she said.

Song: Church Bells by Carrie Underwood

So yeah. That's it folks. Hope you enjoyed this one and see you guys later. Stay cool my little chicklets! Peace out!!