"Finally he's asleep." His body suddenly jerked, half-awakened by the bed as she moved to her side. Frozen, she eyed the bedroom door in front of her with anxious anticipation. Her eyes fixated on the door in the darkness.
"Not yet," she scolded herself. "Wait!"
Her heart pounding, she carefully lifted herself up with her elbow in slow motion, sliding her legs to the side of the bed, being careful not to shake it. Her toes felt the hard berber carpet.
"Focus," she reminded herself, standing up, tiptoeing and praying that she remembered exactly where the creaks in the floor were.
"If he wakes up, I'll tell him I had to pee."
Shaking, she got to the bathroom, where a set of clothes, a cell phone, and car keys were secretly hidden in a cabinet.
"Hurry up."
Fully dressed and ready to bolt, she knew this was it. If he woke up now, there was no tomorrow.
Gripping each key between her fingers tightly, she made it to the front door.
"Almost there.....Concentrate!"
Slowly unlocking the door with her free hand, she planted her feet firmly outside.
"Run!"
Slamming the car door behind her, she looked up to see his face in the doorway, shouting obscenities as he ran towards the driveway.
"Too late," slamming the car into reverse and then flooring it down the street.
"He thinks the kids are at my brother's," she said out loud, smiling, as she drove to Susan's house, which was 5 miles away.
» left by Barbara Clark(323) Barbara Clark (74 days 8 hours ago.)
Teresa, Actually, this short mini-fiction story was done as a writing exercise in 250 words or less! I am quite familiar with domestic violence issues so I understand the fear, but this particular story was just a story--short and to the point. Now I'm wondering if I should write something longer. Thanks for commenting! Respond to this comment
» left by Teresa Ortiz(5,740) Teresa Ortiz (72 days 7 hours ago.)
Hi Barbara, I think it would be great to expand this fictional account using real situations, I think it can give courage to women who are fearful and do not know how to begin to plan an escape. Just my thoughts, again, great job!!
» left by Barbara Clark(323) Barbara Clark (69 days 22 hours ago.)
Teresa, Thank you again! I actually have been thinking of something like that, so you just gave me the "push" to get going on it! Regards, Barbara Respond to this comment
» left by Sandra E. Graham(2,091) Sandra E. Graham (74 days 8 hours ago.)
Good article. This scenerio is played out more times a day that we would ever expect to believe. If not in this way; then it's a rush to pack a few clothes, grab the kids and head out while he's at work. I've been--as I'm sure have many others. Sometimes it's called survival.
Sandra Respond to this comment
» left by Barbara Clark(323) Barbara Clark (74 days 8 hours ago.)
Sandra, Thank you for stopping by and for the compliment. I agree with you that this is all too often a scenario that gets played out everyday---sad to say. I appreciate your insights. Warmly, Barbara Respond to this comment
» left by Steven French(228) Steven French (70 days 10 hours ago.)
Scary. Makes you want to cry that there are hundreds upon thousands of women out there feeling exactly like this, and right now. A good read for men too, most men are not aware that the number one cause of death for women, even over breast cancer, is by their own spouse/lover. This kind of article really gets the point across in a very subtle way. Respond to this comment
» left by Barbara Clark(323) Barbara Clark (69 days 22 hours ago.)
Steven, Thank you for your comments. I hadn't heard that it is the #1 killer of women, but I do know that it is the #1 killer of pregnant women, that at least 1 in 3 women suffers worldwide from domestic abuse and that in the U.S, more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends everyday. Scary indeed. I appreciate getting your male perspective. Warmly, Barbara Respond to this comment
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