scars.

Prolog

- I'm so sick of you, bitch, why are you so stupid, how could you get pregnant?! - he shouted furiously, grabbing a strand of her hair and wrapping it around his fist in his emotions.
- I'm in pain. - the girl's glassy eyes filled with pain and filled with bitter tears, and her voice trembled. The unpleasant feeling of complete helplessness swallowed her up again, she hated that nasty feeling.
- Does it hurt you?! That, Audrey, doesn't hurt yet! - he pushed her with all his might toward the kitchen, and she hit the wooden table, then fell to the cold tile floor.

Audrey really wanted to break up with Kashal, she realized that this relationship was only pulling her down and breaking her from the inside out. But she had no idea how to do it because she depended on him financially.
Lim was originally from Taipei and after she made the decision to study in the United States of America she faced a huge tangle of difficulties. From prejudice against her because of her Asian appearance, to the fact that her visa did not allow her to get a job, to the fact that going to college and then medical school took up all her time, which also prevented her from supporting herself. While her scholarship was barely enough to pay for her dormitory and minimal groceries, Lim could not turn to her parents for help, their conflict prevented it.
At the beginning of their relationship Audrey thought that fate was favorable to her, and she was so lucky because she met a guy like Kashal in college, he was perfect, they had many common interests, she saw no flaws in him, except that he was financially stable, he also had citizenship of this country, so in 3 years, after they were married Audrey could already qualify for American citizenship, which gave her more opportunities in a new country.
Their relationship started out very well, he often gave her gifts and cared for her. Audrey couldn't even imagine what he was really like. However, after a couple of months he started to treat her rudely, his jealousy went over the edge, he was jealous of literally everything and constantly controlled her and overstepped personal boundaries. After a couple more years he started raising his voice at her a lot and once he raised his hand at her. Then it started happening more often, hurting her more and more each time. Where before he could just roughly push her away, now he threw her around like a thing. He liked it when she was afraid of him, it filled him with an intoxicating sense of omnipotence.

- What were you thinking?! I don't want that freak! - Kashal continued to shout frantically, coming over to her and squatting beside her, his cold eyes burning with anger.
- But... - her body stiffened. Fear for herself and her future child took over and paralyzed her. She couldn't even string a few words together.
- I hope you understand what to do. - meaning abortion, Kashal stood up and said dryly, then he went to his room and slammed the door.

Audrey was having a hard time staying on her feet, her legs felt woozy and weakness spilled over her body. She struggled to get up and felt herself bleeding, so she went straight to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom the brunette opened the cold water and washed her face for a long time, trying to stop the blood from her busted lip. Then she quietly went to her room in search of morphine. The pain she was experiencing was unbearable. She always had a packet of morphine in her bag for just such occasions. After taking the pills Audrey fell asleep almost immediately, perhaps it was because she had taken more than she needed.

The next day Audrey went to her studies, covering up the bruise on her face. That day was her last exam. Next up was residency selection. Something she'd been working toward for eight years.

She was 20 weeks pregnant, which meant she could no longer have an abortion, which was terrible, because not only was the baby doomed, but residency was not the best time to have children.

After passing the exam, she went home fearfully expecting the worst, hoping to be home before her husband got home from work. Kashal was very controlling, jealous, and constantly insisted that she didn't need a college degree, which she didn't agree with at all. That day she happened to be a little late at the university, and the exam was delayed. When she entered the apartment, she noticed that Kashal wasn't home yet, so she had a little time to get the full set of documents and leave. Her parents were in a neighboring city because of her father's business trip. The girl with brown hair realized it was time to take action. After packing her small bag she decided to leave a small note on the refrigerator: