07/13/2022
Ali is 24. Her father was a violent man who kept to him self most of the time. You didn’t want to anger him— there would be a physical price to pay. Her mom coaches her daughters on not upsetting dad. She spends the majority of the time calming him down from his constant cycles of angers. Ali has never had a relationship with a safe man.
One night out with friends she meets Rory. He’s mid rant about how heartless women are. How they use men + get away with it. There’s an intense anger in his words. Ali immediately notices him. When they lock eyes a surge of excitement goes through her whole body. She doesn’t see his anger or beliefs about women as a red flag, instead she sees him as an innocent victim. “He’s really been hurt.” She has to help him. Immediately + unconsciously she must prove that she’s not like ‘those women.’ She’ll win his love + prove to him that she’s a special, different type of woman. They talk + flirt all night— the chemistry is palpable. She’s fit for this role.
6 months later they’re living together. While he’s not violent with her, his anger erupts almost daily. Through road rage— where Ali will beg him to stop or slow down. Through turf wars with the neighbors. Through watching the news + calling people ‘idiots’ + morons.’ When he gets fired for an explosive issue at work, he comes home enraged blaming his managers. Ali always has dinner ready for him + talks him down from his eruptions. She’s been coached on how to do this since she was little.
One day a friend comes over + tells her she saw Rory out with another woman. Ali confronts him. Rory is emotionally immature + immediately goes into a rage. “what other stories are your friends going to come up with? “You seriously believe your friend over me? You’re crazier than I thought.” He slams his fist on the dinner table. Ali’s body goes into freeze. She’s right back in childhood + she’s terrified, shaking. That will be the last time she asks Rory about other woman.
She believes he will change, eventually. And keeps trying harder + harder to show him she’s the woman he’s always been looking for. Then, she will finally be loved
