Strong Women Walk Away

Before you read, I should warn you that the content may make you feel a little angry. I felt a little angry writing it. For those who feel they must crack jokes, this is not autobiographical. However, I have seen and heard about friends who have been abused by their spouses, lovers, significant others, what-have-yous and how hard it was to let go even when you knew you were being hurt. Anyway, if I keep writing I am going to lecture us all about being sympathetic and helpful instead of passing judgement. No matter how smart we are, we don't always know everything that is going on. Just be a good and true friend...

The sharp slap of an open palm connecting with unyielding skin rings through the dimly lit hallway.

“You’re my wife. You’ll do what I say.” A husky male voice echoes softly through the hallway as a slender female form crumples against one wall.

“If it’s reasonable.” The woman’s voice comes softly and marred by liquid flowing into her mouth from both her eyes and her nose.

“What did you say?” The man looms three times larger than his wife, so he crouches next to her on the ragged green carpet.

The woman shakes her head, raising one arm to wipe away blood and tears from her pale face. Mottled purple already surrounds one eye. She raises her chin until their eyes meet. Their eyes lock and he leans in, smiling a cruel challenge. Placing both hands under her hips, she gently pushes herself up from the floor. He rises to meet her and loom over her again. Her eyes meet his calmly through a thin stream of tears.

"You think you are a strong woman, don’t you?" His lip curls back as his words tease.

"I know that I am." She throws back her shoulders. Slender fingers fold into the palm of her hands to form tight fists.

"But how strong are you?" He leans closer, letting his warm breath bath her face until she flinches slightly.

"You don't want to find that out." Her tongue flicks across her lips as she speaks.

"Oh, but I do..." His hands are on her shoulders, pulling her toward him.

"But you won't." She slips out of his grasp and turns toward the door.

He grabs her again, pulling her back into a bear hug. As her breath rushes out of her, she thrashes wildly. Somehow one hand breaks free. She presses the palm of her hand into his nose with as much force as she can muster. Long fingers claw at his eyes until he releases her to raise his hands to his face.

Between grunts of anguish, he calls out to her. “You’ll come back, love. And I’ll be waiting.”

She doesn’t need him to finish his promise. He’ll be waiting to punish her for breaking free from him for a moment, a day, or a week, maybe. She reaches for the door anyway, using her other hand to pat the keys in her pocket reassuringly as she flings it open and races through the open doorway.

“I won’t go back. I won’t go back to him.” She whispers this mantra over and over as she stumbles down the stairs.

She continues to whisper these words as she fumbles with her keys. As she opens her door, she stops vocalizing them, but the litany resounds through her mind. By the time the engine turns over, the words have become a dull echo. Tears stream down her cheeks again as she turns from one deserted street to the next.

Her strength drifts away with the last washes of adrenaline. “Everything I have is invested in him. Maybe it will be different the next time.”

As she pulls into a familiar parking lot and steps out, her eyes wander along the red brick house with a hand-painted sign promising shelter. One of the flowered curtains flicks back for a second. The outside light glows invitingly, but the woman just stares at it in dazed confusion. An older woman with thin grey hair pulled back into a messy ponytail rushes from the door to meet her.

“I saw headlights.” Her mouth pulls to a thin hard line as they step into the light. “That looks bad, honey. I thought you weren’t going back to him after the last time.”

The younger woman shakes her head, feeling her knees begin to give way. The older woman reaches out and cradles her in surprisingly strong arms.

“We’ll talk about it later, honey. Let’s just get you inside and let you get some rest.”

The younger woman nods and leans heavily on the older woman’s shoulder as they make their way to the door.