It had been sudden, fast, and violent the way he had connected the back of his hand with your cheek. He knew that even if the stress of the job had his own edge lately, it was no excuse for that. The second he realized what he did he had left the apartment. He didn't say anything, didn't apologize or tried to comfort you. How could he?

He felt ashamed of himself. He was raised better than this. How could he lost his temper like that? How could he lower himself to the level of someone who'd hit a woman, who'd hit you? He went straight to a bar, drank and smoked until the next morning.