"Giulia, Giulia,"
"Yes, love?"
"Who are you on the phone with?"
"Uhh..."
"When I call you, you need to hang up, got it?"
"Yes, but I was..."
"Yeah, whatever, where's the food?"
"Look, sorry, I just didn't have any time. Wait, I'll whip something up quickly."
"What?! You didn't have time? And what have you been doing all day?"
"I worked all day, and then I got a call."
"Oh, yes, great excuse... The truth is you do nothing from morning till night. Do you think it's normal that I come home after a whole day, and you've done nothing? What kind of wife are you? Do you think this is how you take care of your husband?"
"But I've been taking care of you for five years! Every day..."
"You can't even take care of yourself... Just look at yourself..."
"Why are you saying these things to me?"
"Because you're a bum, Giulia! I'm even ashamed to be seen around with you, look at yourself... You're disgusting."
"Stop humiliating me like this, it's not fair, I haven't done anything!"
"Of course, because now we can't tell the truth, because that's what I'm doing, telling the truth."
"Then why did you marry me?"
"Good question, indeed. In fact, it was the biggest mistake of my life... Hello, mom? What happened? Alright, I'm coming there right now. Yes. I have more important things to do. And you, stop crying! You're pathetic, Giulia... You're miserable... sobs."
_____
"Today you did nothing, you didn't even cook!"
"But that's not true... I've been putting up with you for thirty years."
"I'm ashamed of you!"
"What are you doing?! Instead of supporting her, because it's she who has been putting up with you for 30 years, who washes and irons for you, you start insulting her? Listen, why don't you leave?"
"Fine. I was leaving. You're pathetic! Nothing more."
"Mom, what happened? He didn't lay hands on you, did he?"
"No, Marco... But the words he said to me... they destroyed me inside. It's like he beat me up with them."
"Come on, mom, don't worry now. I promise he won't hurt you anymore, I'll see to it... I'm sorry, the words he said are horrible and no one should endure them..."
"Marco, is everything okay?"
"No, mom, I'm just stupid."
"Love... I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry about me... Listen, we'll talk on the phone in a bit. Go home now, okay? Alright."
"Thanks, mom!"
______
"Love, please, forgive me. I said horrible things to you, and moreover, for no reason. I realize that I verbally abused and that it can hurt more than physical violence. You are a wonderful woman, a fantastic wife. And a great worker. And I haven't been the man I should have been. The man you deserve. Forgive me! You were the best choice I made in my life."
"Really?"
"Of course. In fact, you know what I'll do? I'll make it up to you! I'll take care of it. Hoping it turns out well..."
_____
"So, how did it go? Did it work?"
"Perfectly! You were fantastic, Love. It seemed real, thankfully, Giulia left her phone open. When I heard Marco tell her those things... My heart broke. We had to do something!"
______
"Psychological violence is just as dangerous as physical violence! Don't ignore it... The victim, many times, is unaware! Verbal abuse annihilates the soul by slowly destroying it. Help those in this situation. Make them aware."
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