Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 1

This is based on a true story. My story. Names, places and some events are fictional. There could be some triggers in this story for some readers, so read at your own discretion. Writing this story and getting it out there has been greatly therapeutic for me. Thanks!

Dawn just arose on the horizon when Sarah woke up. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and looked at the imprint left behind on her husband Mark's pillow. She wondered why he had arose so early from bed. Sarah threw her legs over the side of the bed and raised her arms in a splendid stretch shaking all evidence of sleep from her body. She slowly stood and walked slowly across the room and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She noticed her hair in disarray as it tumbled over her shoulder, the slight darkness beneath her blue eyes, and the prominent purple shades of a once painful bruise that cascaded her upper arm. Sarah raised a hand and gently caressed the evidence of a sullen night.

Sarah walked to the her closet and grabbed a robe and wrapped her body in it as if it were her tomb. She opened her bedroom door and entered the living room, with no signs of Mark anywhere. She smelled the enticing aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen, and pushed her body there to enjoy a cup. She grabbed a cup from the dishwasher and filled it with coffee. She took her first sip before she even sat down at the small dinette. She reached her chair and saw all the evidence that Mark had sat there that morning. An ashtray sat overflowing with butts, and empty cigarette wrapper lay just beside it, and ashes were strewn across the table. She had repeatedly asked Mark to please just empty the astray when he filled it, and he would consistently tell her it wouldn't hurt her to do it herself. The phone rang, bringing Sarah out of her thoughts. She quickly rose to answer the phone.

"Hello...." she answered.

"Good morning Sarah!"

"Good morning yourself...." Sarah answered with a smile. "How are you Melanie?"

"Well, I am just peachy Sarah!"

"Well good for you!"

"So anyway, would you like to go to the bazaar with me today?"

"Oh I don't know Mel, Mark left this morning and the kitchen is just a mess, you know how he makes it every morning..."

"So it is his mess, let him clean it up..."

Sarah thought about the last time she just let Mark clean it up. "I am not sure that is good idea Melanie." Sarah stuttered.

"That is foolish Sarah, we will just be gone for a little while. Just go get dressed and I will walk on over and we can go. Talk to you soon!"

"Mel wait...." Sarah tried to add to the conversation, but it was too late as Melanie had already hung up. She hung up the phone, and took another sip of her coffee and headed to her room to get dressed.

A half hour later there was a knock on the door. Sarah headed for the door putting in her last earring on the way. She reached the door and opened it up to a tall red headed woman. "Well are ya ready?" Melanie asked excitedly.

"Well as a matter of fact I am, just let me grab my purse."

"Ok....this is gonna be a great sale Sarah. If you had not have gone, you would have kicked yourself!" Sarah grabbed her purse and headed out the door and mumbled, "I am gonna kick myself for going." Melanie looked a little confused at that statement, but she let it pass.