Free to Fall

Chapter Three

"Cracks in the Facade"

Pam's friends and family noticed the change in her. She was quieter, more withdrawn. They asked her if everything was okay, but Pam brushed it off, not wanting to admit the truth.

One night, Yanga's behavior escalated. He showed up at Pam's apartment, furious because she had forgotten to text him. The argument ended with Yanga slamming his fist on the counter, making Pam jump.

As she looked at him, she saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Fear of losing her, fear of not being in control.

"Yanga, maybe we should take a break," Pam said, her voice trembling.

He laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think you can just leave me? I love you, Pam. I'll never let you go."

The words sent a chill down her spine. Pam realized she was trapped, stuck in a relationship that was slowly destroying her.

But she couldn't leave. Not yet. She was still holding onto the hope that things would go back to the way they were, that Yanga would change.

As the days went by, Pam's world shrunk smaller and smaller. She stopped seeing her friends, stopped going out. She was isolated, alone with Yanga and his increasing anger.

And then, one night, the physical abuse started.

Pam was shocked, horrified. She didn't know what to do, where to turn.

But as she looked in the mirror the next morning, she saw a stranger staring back at her. A stranger with a black eye and a broken spirit.

She knew then that she had to escape, before it was too late.