The Bloodshed

It's been almost two years since their wedding day, Joshua and Carly have decided that they are postponing having children because Joshua felt that he hasn't been fully independent yet. They lived in Joshua's parents' house, on the second floor which could avoid them from too much interference from the rest of the family. Joshua's older sister lived there too, on the second floor, but in a separate part of the building. Even so, living together with in-laws was hard for Carly, although Carly was working at a company and barely home during the day. There were so many difficulties, complexities, and unintended circumstances that lead them into disagreements and even fights. 

Carly understood that she was so young and needed many suggestions and lessons to build her marriage, she was only 22 years old. But her mother in law's interference was too much for her to bear. Moreover, her sister in law was pretty rude, as if she didn't like Carly or even hated her. She often called her stupid or dumb, two words that were forbidden in Carly's family. And her brother in law who was a winebag was always grossly teasing her.

Carly had tried so hard, according to her justification, to adjust herself in the family, to fit in, because she loved Joshua. But it was never enough, and her in-laws have always found her flaws, things to be corrected, which she thought she could accept if only they had done it wisely and softly, and yet they have always corrected her in a rude and hurtful way. Carly spent many times crying alone in the night, without Joshua noticing. But this time it was different. She couldn't take any more struggles.

***

Carly went home from work that day, she went home by public transportation because Joshua was not so often picking her home unless she had overtime at the office. She was exhausted because she encountered a quite hard customer who rudely blamed her for the damage he was suffering and demanded compensation from Carly herself, which made no sense. Luckily her senior came after almost an hour she had dealt with him, and explained how to get the compensation. The customer believed him just because he was the senior, such a cliche.

Carly arrived at the front door and heard crashing glassware or something from inside the house. And then one more. And another one, followed by a scream from her sister in law, swearing at her husband. All of the drama that she hasn't witnessed yet paused her step to walk into the house. Carly stood there terrified, taking back her hand that was holding the doorknob. She intended to eavesdrop without opening the door when suddenly she heard loud footsteps running in her direction, so she stepped back. Just right before the door opened roughly from the inside. Her sister in law stormed out and screamed like crazy, almost bumping into her, but Carly quickly moved back and leaned against the wall.

Carly's widened eyes followed her sister in law, her lips hollowing in surprise. She wanted to ask what was happening, but even before she managed a word, she heard another loud thumping footsteps aftering her sister in law. Carly poked her head into the doorway and there he was, her drunk brother in law, raising his arm high in the air, with a giant chopper in his grip.

"No more living in this house, I'm too young to die by this kind of accident," Carly thought in an instant.