N is for Never Again #AtoZChallenge

“You’re a stupid bitch,” Dave had said when she didn’t get dinner on the table at precisely 6 pm. Her cheek still ached where he had struck her. Then he complained that the chicken was raw and threw the plate on the floor like a spoiled child. She had got down on all fours to clean up the mess and he kicked her in the ribs.

She rubbed her side, every breath causing her pain.

“You’re so fat and ugly. No other man would want you,” he had said after they had sex. It wasn’t making love. Love had nothing to do with it.

Her insides felt raw and scraped. Dave didn’t care about satisfying her. She was just an object to pound out his sexual frustration.

“You’ll never amount to anything. Why are you even bothering?” he had said when he found out Michelle was taking an online writing course. He took her textbooks and threw them on a bonfire in the yard.

At the time, she had believed that she was stupid, fat, ugly and worthless.
Never again.

Lies, every one of them.

All the booze Dave had consumed last night would ensure he wouldn’t wake until she was safe. She’d slipped a sleeping pill in his drink to make sure of it.

Her friend Alice volunteered at a shelter for abused women.

“Get away from that monster before it’s too late,” Alice urged, offering to take her to the shelter.  

Michelle stood on the step holding her suitcase in the cool dampness of the dark night. Finally the headlights of Alice’s car shone like the beams from a lighthouse, guiding her to safety.

Never again.
I am participating in the A to Z Challenge writing a blog post for every day in April, except Sundays. http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

Here are my previous posts for the challenge:

A is for Andante or Allegro, which one are you?
B is for Beauty of Birds
C is forMy Favourite Words begin with C
D is for It's Still a Delightful Day!
E is for Elusive Eloise
F is for Forgive and Forget
G is for Guilt
H is for Holiday in your Head
I is for Introverts can have Impact and Influence
J is for Jack and Jill
K is for Katie the Klutz 
L is for Lollygagging 
M is for Magical Moments

Comments

  1. Shailaja VApril 17, 2017 at 5:17 AM

    This made me shiver. The raw feel of that pain of domestic violence is something you captured so well, Cat!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Debbie D. April 17, 2017 at 6:14 AM

    Good for her, getting out in time! Sadly, so many don't. You've really captured the horror of the situation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShaliniApril 17, 2017 at 8:37 AM

    So happy for her! This gave me the chills, Cat. We should fight against domestic violence!
    Thailand Travel Stories at Kohl Eyed Me
    26 Indian Dishes at Something's Cooking

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chicky KadambariApril 18, 2017 at 11:12 PM

    So glad for her. This is not just domestic violence, but narcissism, when you're fed so many lies about how worthless you are, that you actually lose all confidence in your abilities.

    It is so much more damaging than just physical violence. And it can happen without the hitting too. It was easy for her to get help for the physical/sexual abuse, but it's not so easy explaining someone about only the narcissistic abuse.

    Btw, I'm lagging behind even more. But will catch up. Do visit my N post.
    Happy AtoZing!
    Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#MicroblogMonday - Small Actions Do Make a Difference

Image
My family has a band made up of me on flute, my husband on bass clarinet, one son on tenor sax and the other on drums. We play music at the Presbyterian church we attend every third Sunday.  Our church congregation are a traditional, conservative bunch, not known for displaying too much emotion and often I assume that no one cares much if we play or not. Yesterday I was at a funeral for one of the members. A woman came up to me and told me how much she loves to see my sons perform and how the music just pours out of us. She always looks forward to the Sundays when we are performing and how much our music means to her. Her appreciation for our music reminded me that even small actions can have a big impact. It also reminded me that if someone does make a difference, it’s important to thank them and show your appreciation. Never assume that people know already as often they’re like me and don’t think that these small actions are a big deal. Never underestim...
Read more

#MondayMusings Acceptance of Loss and Change

Image
This cartoon certainly touched a nerve this morning and triggered an outpouring of emotion that has evolved into this blog post. I sure miss my mom’s phone calls. That was our way of staying connected across the vast thousand mile distance between Ontario and Cape Breton.  My mom just loved to talk on the phone with friends and family, especially during the last few years of her life when she wasn’t as active anymore. She would come out to the sunroom, sit in her favourite chair (sometimes with an orange cat in her lap) and phone people. She used to put on the speaker phone which I never liked, but she found it easier and my dad could listen in, too. I used to tell her I wasn't a phone person and that I preferred email and Facebook are since I express myself best in writing.  What I wouldn't do for one of my mom’s phone calls now. Miss her every day. I'm adapting and going on, as one must do after losing a loved one, but life is defini...
Read more