NO SAFE PLACE

I was no longer scared.

There were no harsher words my mother could have said to me than the ones she had already thrown at me that morning.

I walked out of the gate, slammed it behind me, and stopped the first taxi I saw.

Once I was inside, I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

As the taxi pulled away, I thought about where I could go.

I brought out my phone and tried calling someone.

No answer.

I called again.

Still nothing.

I already knew Lisa wouldn't be at home. It was Monday, so she was probably at work.

I had nowhere else to go.

My boyfriend's house was my last option.

I stared out of the window for a moment before giving the driver Stanley's address.

When I finally reached my destination, I paid the driver and walked straight toward Stanley's house.

I knocked.

Knock. Knock.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

“Babe! I missed you!”

Stanley tried to pull me into a hug, but I immediately shoved him away.

I wasn't in the mood.

Without saying anything else, I walked inside and dropped onto the couch.

Stanley stared at me like he had just seen a ghost.

“Babe… did you leave your house dressed like this?”

I looked down at myself.

“Stanley, this is not the time for this. Yes, I left my house like this. So what now? Please, just let me think for a while.”

I wasn't expecting much from him anyway.

He crossed his arms.

“You said your boss wanted to sleep with you, right?”

I slowly turned to him, confused.

How exactly had we gotten to this conversation?

“That's because I made a mistake telling you,” I said, forcing a weak smile.

“Which man on earth wouldn't want something from you dressed like this?” he asked.

I stared at him in disbelief.

Was this really what he had chosen to focus on?

“Wait. Can you hear yourself? Do I dress like this to work? I just woke up. I haven't even had my bath. I had a heated argument with my mom, and that's why I'm here.

“Please, babe. I need to calm my head. Just let me be.”

“Then why didn't you go inside, pick up a skirt or a longer shirt before coming out?”

I sat up.

“Stanley, this is not the time to display your jealousy. I came here in a taxi, not a bus. And you're making it sound like you have ever taken me seriously all this while.

“Please. Just let me think.”

He stared at me.

“So this is what you think?”

“It's not what I think. It's what it is.”

I looked him straight in the eyes.

“My parents have invited you over countless times because they wanted to meet you properly. They wanted to know the man I was dating.

“But what did you do, Stanley?

“You turned them down as if they were offering you a job with terrible pay.

“Don't even get me started.”

“Jane, that was a long time ago. Why are you still bringing it up now?” he asked.

“A long time ago?”

I sat up fully.

“You treated my parents like trash, and you're calling it a long time ago?”

My voice shook.

“I will keep bringing it up if you don't stop trying to control my life. At my age, I can't go to clubs. I can't go on vacation with my colleagues. I can't do so many things because of your stupid insecurity.

“This is getting out of hand, Stanley, and I don't think I can take it anymore.

“You're also one of the reasons I'm not on good terms with my mom.”

My heart ached.

I had spent three years with this man, and somehow, I had slowly allowed him to make decisions for me.

Where I went.

Who I talked to.

What I wore.

Who I could trust.

And I had called it love.

Stanley suddenly clapped.

“Ohhh… now I see where you're heading.”

I looked at him, confused.

“So I'm one of your regrets, right?”

I didn't look away.

“Yes, you are.

“You should know that by now.”

His expression hardened.

“I'm your regret because I don't let every man in this world get between your legs?”

He raised his voice.

“Who knows if you actually slept with your boss behind my back?”

For a moment, I was speechless.

Then I smiled weakly.

“You know what? I actually regret not doing it.

“I would have done it and kept my job.”

His eyes widened as though he couldn't believe I had actually said it to his face.

“But honestly, Stanley, you have nothing to offer me anymore.”

Silence filled the room.

I had been with Stanley for three good years.

For most of that time, I had been foolishly obedient. I had accepted his rules, his jealousy, and his endless accusations because I kept telling myself that love required sacrifice.

Even after he repeatedly refused to meet my parents, I stayed.

Even when my mother called me a fool for staying with him, I defended him.

But standing there that morning, something finally became clear.

Maybe my mother was right about one thing.

Maybe I really had been a fool.

My phone suddenly rang.

I looked at the screen.

Lisa.

“Hello, Jane.”

Her voice came through the phone.

“Oh, my God! Thank goodness. Lisa, you called when I needed you most.”

“I missed your call. What happened?” she asked.

“Lisa, are you home?”

“Yes, I am. Please get beer and fried chicken when you're coming.”

I blinked.

“Didn't you hear that I—”

“Got fired again?”

“Yes, I did. Get the chicken and beer when you're coming.”

She cut me off and hung up.

“Wait, Lisa! Hello? Hello?”

The call had already ended.

I lowered my phone and smiled.

Lisa had always acted as though she didn't care about me.

But I knew better.

She was the one person who always showed up when I needed her.

“Haven't I warned you to stay away from that girl?” Stanley suddenly said. “She'll corrupt you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don't start with this, please. I knew Lisa before you got into the picture. You expect me to cut her off because of you?

“No.

“You've been in my life for three years. She's been there since high school. So don't ask me to choose between you and her.”

Stanley's expression changed.

“When I talk, you listen to me.”

He stepped closer and grabbed my face.

“Mmmh. Did you hear me?”

I struggled against his grip.

“Let me go.”

He leaned closer and tried to kiss me.

I turned my face away.

“Stanley, let me go!”

I bit his lip.

“Fuck!”

He released me immediately, grabbing his mouth and checking for an injury.

“Are you out of your mind, Jane?” he screamed.

I stood up.

“You know what? I won't sit here and watch you yell at me like that.

“I am not your child. I am a grown woman.

“If you want someone you can control however you want, go out there and get yourself one.”

I picked up my phone.

“I'm leaving.”

“Jane, wait. Wait!”

He followed me toward the door.

But I didn't stop.

For once, I wasn't interested in hearing another excuse.

I opened the door, stepped outside, and slammed it shut behind me.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door.

My mother had reje

cted me.

My boyfriend had tried to control me.

I had lost another job.

And I still had nowhere to go.

But somehow, walking away from Stanley felt different.

For the first time that day, I wasn't running away from something.

I was choosing myself.