The air was heavy with the scent of rain. A storm was coming but Camila wasn’t paying attention to the rolling dark grey clouds that threatened to break at any moment. She was standing at the kitchen sink staring down their quiet street anticipating the arrival of a red corvette. The house was spotless and dinner was warm in the oven but none of that mattered. All that mattered was when the precious red corvette would arrive and what came with it.

Camila’s breathe caught when she heard the roar of the engine coming around the corner. She quickly shut the curtains and surveyed the picture perfect house. As she hear the roar arrived just outside the window she quickly placed the dinner plate neatly at the head of the table. Moments later a tall man with blonde hair stumbled in the door. He had an agitated look about him with a side of cocky energy. He immediately looked up and glared at Camila who nervously pushed her brown limp hair behind her ears.

“What are you lookin at?” he snarled.

“N-nothin.” Camila’s eyes dropped. She hoped her husband Larry would not find any fault this time but her heart sank when she saw the disgusted look on his face.

“I’m not eatin that crap. ‘Sides, I’m goin out for dinner.” Larry began to stalk to the bedroom.

“Oh with who?” Camila regretted the question the moment it escaped her lips. Larry paused and slowly turned to stare at her, his eyes blazing with hatred.

“Now how is that any of your business? You don’t never ask me any questions you worthless piece of trash!” Larry shoved the plate of food off the table with such force it crashed against the other wall. “I can’t even come home after a long day and just relax! You don’t do nothin around here but you think you can question me?” Larry was inches from Camila’s face his breath reeked of stale cigarettes. “Don’t ever question me again you ugly good for nothing wench.” Camila cast down her eyes praying he would stop. “I’m taking a shower. You clean up this mess.” Larry stomped off down the hall and Camila finally caught her breath when she heard the shower running.

Quickly she cleaned up the mess and as Larry was finishing up she saw headlights as a black car pulled into their driveway. She peeked out the window to see a young blonde girl step out with cherry red lips and a crop top to match. She heard a sound behind her and turned to see Larry’s cold eyes boring into her.

“Pretty young thang ain’t she?” he sneered. “Much prettier than you.” He smirked at the hurt look on Camila’s face. “Don’t worry Camila, you will never be rid of me. You are my property. I will always have a place for you no matter how worthless you really are.” And with a slam of the door Larry walked out. Hot tears streaked down Camila’s face as she went to the kitchen window and watched Larry saunter up to the giggling blonde and dip her low for a long kiss. With a broad smile he sneaked a glance back at the window before jumping into the black car. Camila watched them speed off down the road.

Camila was furious. She ran into the bedroom and began packing the little belongings she had. When she was done the sky had turned pitch black and crickets were chirping. She went to the bathroom and splashed cool water on her face to hopefully reduce the puffiness in her eyes. She surveyed herself in the mirror wondering how she got here and how was she going to leave? Larry was all she knew.

Camila stood in the threshold of her home. She looked outside of the open door to where her freedom was, unknown. She looked back into the comfort of her home, a prison but the only thing she knew, it was a sure and safe. Camila sadly looked at her bag and thought about the long task of unpacking. She looked out into the driveway and stared at his most prized possession…his red corvette. Hot rage coursed through her veins as she thought about how he had loved on that car more than her.

Shoulders back, head up Camila walked into Larry’s bedroom. She flipped over the mattress where she found his secret stash of emergency cash. She walked back to the kitchen and opened one of the drawers to grab Larry’s stash of cigarettes and lighter. Her eyes lit up at what she found.

Camila smiled in the moonlight as she puffed a cigarette. She flicked the cigarette into the dry grass next to the house then skipped to the red corvette, keys jangling in her hands. She jumped into the car and sped off, watching Larry’s house go up in flames in the rearview mirror. She thought how ironic it was that Larry’s most hated possession now owned his most prized possession. She laughed gleefully into the night air at the thought.