In response to Friday Fictioneers I submit the following:
Photo prompt from The Reclining Gentleman
I don’t know where I am going but I am leaving. For good. I am leaving behind an abusive relationship, lies, violence and distrust. I open the window and the rushing air blows away the guilt and shame that clings to me like a spider’s web.
I haven’t lost any of the love I once had. I just can’t deal with this Jekyll and Hyde Monster that has come between us. Not anymore. They say our past shapes us and causes us to choose partners like our parents. My Mom was abused. I never thought I would become an abuser. (100 words)
Coffee in the Rain 
Dear Jenny,
That kind of history does have a way of repeating itself. Chances are the husband’s own father was an abuser. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Isn’t it amazing how the abused become abusers? Good piece.
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I think it happens more often than we think that the abused become abuser.. and sometimes they realize before it’s too late.
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History sadly tends to repeat itself. Nice one.
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Very clever how you make us assume that the narrator is the victim until the very end. Nice writing.
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An interesting twist at the end, and makes for a completely different story on re-reading.
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Loved the twist, really cleverly crafted story. Nice job.
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Great surprise ending. Most thought provoking.
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Very clever, Jenny, and very well done.
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OH! Love how we assume the main character is the abused… well done!
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Great twist at the end. Nicely done.
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I thought the person, probably a woman, was running away from abuse and not the abuser. It is unusual for women to be the abuser as well.
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The abuser is a man. He is running away from the monster that he has become. Unfortunately, unless he gets help, he won’t be able to change. At least he realises what is happening. It’s the first step.
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Oh that is an interesting twist for sure. Good he is taking a step in the right direction.
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Loved the twist at the end. Turning the character around and in our heads. Very neat!
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Great ending. Your clues throughout are nicely ambiguous.
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Very well done…so unusual that the abuser was leaving…love that surprise ending.
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Good twist at the end. I was convinced until then that the narrator was the abused. Came as a surprise that he was the abuser. Am I right in thinking he is about to kill himself. If so that is sad as I’m sure he could get help.
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Thanks Irene. At present he is just getting away from the situation. Maybe in the future he will go for help….or kill himself
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Love the way you pulled me into a trap then switched all my assumptions. Good piece.
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Unusual for an abuser to recognize that they are the problem. Well done!
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Thanks Yolanda
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nice twist at the end…
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I’ve a partially (vaguely) formed theory that cruelty is contagious. You get treated cruel & you find yourself treating others the same…
Well done.
KT
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We resemble our parents more than we’d sometimes like to admit. Great twist, and kudos to the MC to recognize what he’s doing. If he really wants to change, he’ll get help, and has a chance.
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That last line caught me by surprise. I think because our stories are so similar (including the title) until the last line.
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If we look at the statistics, boys whose father abused their mother will become abusers themselves. Girls whose mothers were abused will become the abused ones in their relationships. And a lot of people who were abused as children will become the abusers. The challenge is to break the cycle. I think your story showed this.
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This is a really moving piece, with a thought-provoking final twist. That last line was so powerful. It seems to be true that these behaviours pass on from generation to generation
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