SUFFERING IN SILENCE

PHOTO CREDIT: @nubellorona

What goes up, they say, does not really stay up, it comes down one way or the other. This was the adage, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Kirkman, could attest to.

Elizabeth got married to Tom Kirkman, two years after college; to the utmost astonishment of everyone. No one in college, back then, would have thought she'd get married, even four years after college. This notion was streamlined to no other fact than the reputation Elizabeth had built for herself. She was not known to fall in love for so long, she just kept a romantic relationship based on the size of recompense that came with her romantic attachment. She was known for the money, parties, drugs and flamboyant lifestyle.

Liz, as she was fondly called by all, was resplendent with all lively characteristics. She was liked by all the guys, but unfortunately, hated by the ladies, out of jealousy. Matte was not the word to qualify Liz, as she was the outgoing specie. Any canvass, on which she appeared, was painted with ecstasy and enthusiasm. Liz was the life of every party and occassion during the college days.

Although, socially-inclined, Liz was an astute person, but on the contrary, an improvident spender she was, who also had a myopic view of the future. All these characteristics were accentuated from her physical personality in all. As smart as she seemed to be, her academic perfomance only trailed the maladroit path.

''Your shortsighted view of life will not take you places'', shouted the principal in annoyance once he scolded her in his office back in college.

Regardless of the objurgation on numerous counts, Liz just smiled and always told herself, that life was not for the geeks alone. Graduation day came, and Liz was on the list. This surprised many.

Fast forward to two years after graduation, Liz got married to the caring Tom Kirkman—her former neighbor in Texas before her family moved to Colorado, eight years ago. Tom was everything a good adjective could qualify, but regardless of how neat the toilet is, they say, a little defecation made it messy. Tom had one bad attitude, an unchangeable one to be precise—he was overprotective of Liz. His paranoia of losing her led to protection with scrutiny.

Now Mrs. Kirkman, Liz relocated to Texas to live with her husband on the outskirt of the town, in one of the biggest houses on 3rd street, on the Hills avenue. Painted in brown, with lights all over, Tom's house was the definition of modern architecture—it was jumbo.

Tom would go to work every morning and returned when the sun set. Due to overprotection of wife, Tom never allowed Liz to work or go out to visit friends. He moulded her to her worst nightmare—an introvert. She would be at home throughout the whole day and this became a routine. The surveillance cameras were conspicous as the house was big, so she could not even sneak out to see friends. If she did, and Tom found out, the rest would have been history, because Tom was the hot-tempered bull. Sometimes she'd sit on the sofa and cry for the whole day.

''This is not you!'', Stella , her roommate back in college, would shout at her on the phone anytime they spoke through the ringer.

Defensively, Liz in protection of her marriage, smiled and told Stella that everything was fine. Under the pretense of changing, she'd tell her longtime friend that marriage could change the unimaginable.

Often, Liz found solace in the window next to the dining room, looking through all day long. Liz was suffering but there was no one to talk to as the house was, most always silent. With all these, she had a hopeful nature, for she was not much of a pessimist.

Five years after marriage, Elizabeth Kirkman lived in the big big brown house, from dawn till dusk, waiting for her husband to come back from work each day. Tom Kirkman, her husband, was the only relief she had.

Although, together ever after, she lived with Tom, Liz suffered in silence as she paid the price for her sweet life marriage bought. Confined to a big house, marriage changed Liz drastically, as she watched her freedom go belly up.

THE END

This contest was organized by @thewritersblock with the above image by @nubellorona used as the prompt.

This is my entry to the contest.