The Digital Shadows: Love, Lies, and Longing (Part 10 )

Breaking the Chains:-

Jacee knew she needed to be an independent woman. At the age of 21, she had completed her degree and was diligently seeking a job. Despite her best efforts, she faced rejection after rejection in her interviews. The only option left was a call center job (IT help desk) offering a monthly salary of 21k. Determined, Jacee decided to join the call center and pursue additional courses simultaneously. However, her boyfriend, Aaric, disapproved of her working and wanted her to stay home and manage household chores.

Fearful of his anger, Jacee hid the fact that she had joined the job. Three days into her new role, she finally revealed her decision to Aaric. As expected, he became furious. He sought out information about the company from his friends and roommates, who painted a negative picture, claiming the night shift workers engaged in inappropriate behavior (like having sex with the co-workers, trying to talk and flirt with the female co-workers etc...).

One day, Aaric called Jacee, pretending to miss her and asking her to meet him. Trusting him, she went to see him, but he had orchestrated the meeting to start a fight. He began to slut-shame her for working at the call center and insulted her family. Despite Jacee's attempts to explain her side, Aaric's anger escalated. He started to slap her, pushing her out of the way and pulling her hair. Jacee became weak, struggling to defend herself against his violent outburst. Each slap felt like a blow to her spirit, and as he yanked her hair, she felt her strength ebbing away.

At one point, he forced her to sit on the floor and demanded a list of all the men she had talked to, even for trivial reasons like borrowing a pen. Even if her classmates said hi, asked for exam help, or asked for a pen or notes, Aaric demanded their names. Out of fear, Jacee listed all her male school and college classmates. Aaric then brutally beat her with his slipper, punched on her chest and even stepped on her stomach. Even after she agreed to resign from her job, he didn't stop. He was beating her like hell, ignoring her cries and pleas.

After the beating, Aaric forced her to smoke weed to calm down. Though she initially refused, she eventually gave in. The smoke filled her lungs, and slowly, she began to feel numb. The physical pain started to fade, and her racing thoughts slowed down. She felt detached from her body, as if the weed had created a barrier between her and her suffering. For a brief moment, she felt a strange sense of peace. Exhausted from the ordeal, she eventually fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, escaping her reality for a few hours.

The next morning, the events of the previous night tormented her. She acted as if nothing had happened while silently suffering inside. She felt a deep sense of betrayal, realizing the man she loved could treat her so cruelly. Her body ached from the beatings, and her spirit felt broken.

Soon after, Jacee resigned from her job and isolated herself in her room, unable to focus on the course she had enrolled in. She had only worked at the call center for 20 days, but she cherished the kind people she had met there. Every day, she replayed the painful memories in her mind, feeling trapped and alone. She struggled to find the strength to move on, her dreams of independence slipping further away.

The emotional scars ran deep, leaving Jacee questioning her worth and her ability to ever achieve her goals. Her self-esteem was shattered, and she found it hard to trust anyone. The weight of Aaric's abuse hung heavily over her, making it difficult for her to see a way out. She was left to silently endure the pain, hoping for a brighter future but unsure how to reach it.

She couldn't fully describe the sufferings of that day. She wished it were her worst nightmare, but unfortunately, even today, she is still suffering from this incident.

Moral of the Story: True independence comes from breaking free from toxic relationships and standing up for oneself, no matter the obstacles.