Inspiration: Eastenders

Chantelle & Gray Atkins

Type: Descriptive/Narrative (not too much dialogue)

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What do you think of when you hear the words perfect family?

Chantelle Atkins. A gorgeous woman with supple brown curls and beautifully tanned skin, matched with a pair of innocent brown eyes and voluptuous, pink-tinted lips. She was quite tall and skinny, but she carried herself well, with a happy-go-lucky personality and a beaming smile that would light up a room.                                                                                                                                                       Her husband, Gray Atkins, was a well kept man. He had dark brown hair, always swept over or slicked back, a beard that was always trimmed to perfection. His skin porcelain, carrying a confident glow. Gray had charm all over, it was his shtick, he was confident in himself, a gentleman and very charismatic. He spoke with conviction and kept up his reputation. Not only were his looks attractive, but his aura and presence was too. Being a gentleman and having a well paying job? There wasn't a bad bone in his body.

Birds softly chirped outside as the sun rose and beamed in through the windows, the house was quiet, no one was awake. A lovely Saturday morning it was. Chantelle got up and headed for the bathroom while her family continued to sleep. The bathroom mirror fogged up while the shower's warm water resumed heating up. For a mother of two doting children, hot showers were necessary for her weary bones. 1, 2, 3, 4... Spreading the body wash across her skin, she massaged her aching muscles. 5, 6, 7, 8.. Numerous bruises lined her arms and stomach. She worked so hard at home, for her children. And her husband.

As she quietly walked downstairs, her body still slightly damp from the shower, she slowly made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her loving husband and children. Preparing everything with ease, Chantelle felt at peace, it wasn't often that she got a moment to herself. She knew that everyone would be waking up soon and continued making food.

Not too long after placing the breakfast-filled plates down at the dining table, Mack and Mia, two adorable, curly haired children ran into the open plan dining room. There was one door to enter the living room and another door in the kitchen which led to a laundry room and eventually the corridor to the stairs and front door. A perfect maze for the perfect family.                                                      Their faces lit up as the piping-hot food presented itself lovingly to the children's very hungry stomachs. Moments later, Chantelle's husband, Gray Atkins, well-renowned lawyer and father to Mack and Mia, walked into the dining room, smiling at his wife. Taking strides over, he pecked his wife's cheek and sat down at the table with his children. As Chantelle took to her seat as well, Gray placed his hand over hers, gazing at her tenderly. She glanced back, sprouting a smile filled with love.

Once everyone had eaten, Chantelle cleaned up, washing the remaining plates. Her family were planning to spend time together at the Queen Vic, a local pub, and so directly after tidying up, she went to get ready. Karen had already picked up Mack and Mia, they were going to meet them there.                                                                                                                                                                                                      When she picked out her outfit, she began changing. Gray stopped her momentarily, holding her hands and staring at her with a smile.

"So we've got the house to ourselves for a little bit" He spoke, his smile turning into a smirk.

Chantelle laughed quietly and beamed, but not as brightly as per usual. "We're supposed to be meeting up with my family soon though."

"Ah, we won't be long." Gray assured her, leaning in to give her a kiss.

Not feeling 100% about it, Chantelle went through with it anyway, trying to remind herself that this was okay.

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Spending time with her parents and siblings went as quick as it was planned, and it was already 5pm by the time Chantelle and Gray had gotten home. Their children would be staying with their grandmother for the remainder of the weekend, as Karen so kindly offered and insisted, to give the couple some time to themselves.

As they made their way to the living room, Chantelle timidly made her way to the kitchen to grab a glass. She could sense the ill-witted, irritated vibe that emanated from her husband. Gray was angry about something, it was always something. His eyes darkened as he watched his wife fill her glass with water. Approaching the island counter, he slammed his hands down onto it and leaned forward, making Chantelle jump in place and turn around to face him.

"Did you think it was funny?" Gray snarled, clenching his jaw. "Laughing at me? Being the topic of every joke?!"

With her hands shaking, she grasped the glass in her hand tightly, the tips of her fingers turned yellow. "Of course not. I-I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at my father." 

Almost immediately, Gray stepped quickly around the counter and grabbed Chantelle, making her scream in pain and drop the glass that was in her hand. It smashed to pieces around their feet, creating a choking silence as they both stared at each other. Anger wafted from Gray like a burning flame, and her pusillanimous frame was tensed up underneath the grasp of his strong hands. She was afraid for her life.

Gray began to raise his voice, "Don't you ever.. EVER.. Laugh at me like that again." His dark eyes were filled with malice and intensity, he craved control and this is how he got it. "I am your husband and I want respect." Chantelle whimpered as he grew closer with every word, his huffing breath imminently making contact with her neck, like he was strangling her. 

As if Chantelle had not heard a single thing he said, Gray gave her one hefty punch to the stomach, rendering her practically immobile. She fell to the floor, hunched over and narrowly missing the shards of glass on the floor. Her sobs were painful, echoing all over the house, filling the eerily quiet home. Despite all of this happening, Chantelle was grateful that Mack and Mia weren't at home to hear or see this, she still had appearances to keep up. This would scar her children horribly, but who's to say they didn't already know? Pathetically, Gray stared, almost admiring the pain he had enacted and marvelling at the control he had over her. He was not smiling, and he did not need to; for the power he had over Chantelle was enough to satisfy him. Gradually growing bored, Gray slowly made his way out of the room, leaving her to cry in pain, surrounded by shards of glass representing the spirit of hers that her husband continued to crush.

Every family is perfect... right?