Just Like a Woman by Madeleine Clark

she finished and put her mug down, he got up walked round the bar, took her hand and led her to the bedroom. At the door he stopped.
    ‘Do you need the bathroom?’ She nodded and turned towards the door, but he didn’t let go of her hand.
    ‘This time I want to know your real name.’
    Stephanie stared back. This was not part of the game. He knew that. No one had questioned her before, and she had certainly never questioned anyone else; their name was their business. He had taken control again. Did she tell him, or should she lie?
    ‘Well?’ He asked quietly. ‘I really would like to know.’ He didn’t plead and there was no whine in his voice. He was stating a fact.
    ‘Stephanie,’ she replied. Immediately regretting opening her mouth. The relationship was now something else. And she wasn’t sure what. ‘How about you Trevor? What’s your real name?’
    ‘Trevor.’ She could see no reason to doubt him as he freed her hand.
    Inside, sitting on the toilet, she didn’t understand why she was there. There was none of the excitement of that first visit, yet she felt compelled to stay, an unfamiliar sensation prevented her from leaving.
    She wanted him.
    She actually wanted him. No one else. She realized she had forgotten Robert and Sarah, she hadn’t thought about them since Trevor knocked on her car window. He was the only thing in her mind. She stood by the sink and cleaned her teeth, looking at herself in the mirror; what was she doing here? This was such a mistake. She sat back on the toilet seat not sure what to do. Then she heard his voice.
    ‘You ok in there?’
    ‘Yes just coming.’ That was why she was here. She was ready, just the thought of him caused her to be ready. Her stomach leapt again and she felt slightly nauseous, sure it was not the rum she had drunk.
    *****
    She hit the curb as she turned into the drive and relief flooded through her as she saw the house; not just because all the lights were off and her mother would be in bed. She knew she had drunk too much to be driving. Or maybe this was what it was like to be in love. Thank goodness, she was home at last. That must be the first time, Sarah giggled to herself; being glad to be home. The magazines said it felt nice to be in love. She giggled some more as she parked the car. At least there wouldn’t be an argument; she would certainly smell alcohol on her breath if she was still up. If only she hadn’t screamed, but had been more sophisticated, like the women in her magazines. None of them would have screamed. She giggled. He did look funny though, when she screamed.
    Closing the car door carefully, trying not to make any noise, she tiptoed up the drive. Still giggling she pushed her fist in her mouth to stifle the noise. At the front door she fumbled in her bag for her keys, then giggled more as she realized they were in her hand all the time.
    ‘Silly nit’ she whispered to herself. ‘Shhhh, mustn’t make any noise.’ She opened the door carefully and then kicked it shut with her foot. Turning to the door she put her finger to her mouth, ‘Shhhh,’ she told it. Bending she took off her shoes and not daring to put the light on she felt her way along the hallway tripping on a box. She stood still, waiting.
    Silence.
    She carried on until she got to the foot of the stairs and carefully felt her way up each stair, leaning against the wall. Finally she put her foot out and there were no more stairs. To guide her along the corridor to the bedroom she reached out with her right hand for the rail. She screamed. Something grabbed hold off her wrist. Tight. And it hurt.
    ‘Where the hell have you been?’ Her mother’s voice. Itchy and scratchy.
    Sarah’s heart beat increased. The fuzziness in her mind became more intent. Thoughts disappeared into thin air and her voice deserted her; bile rose in her mouth destroying the taste of the wine.
    ‘Well? And don’t think about lying. You little bitch.’ The voice rose higher, ‘I