Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 4

"Sarah...this is Mel..."

"Hi Mel...."

"Sarah, you are not sounding so good, are you alright?" Melanie was very concerned that something had happened. When Sarah didn't answer, Melanie was a little panicked. "Sarah, answer me!"

Sarah broke down and began crying. "No Mel, I am not alright."

"Sarah, I am coming over...." and she hung up.

"Mel, no...." Sarah stopped when she realized Melanie had already hung up. In minutes there was a knock at the door.

"Sarah, open up!" Sarah was hesitant to open the door. What would Mel think of her? What if Mark came back home?

"Sarah, come on honey, I am here to help you."

Slowly Sarah reached for the doorknob, and twisted it. Before Melanie came through the door she looked at her dearest friend, her companion for many years. "Oh my God Sarah, what happened?"

Sarah made her way to the couch, and replaced the ice back to her face. She sat down with her eyes once again welling up with tears. Melanie quietly shut the door and sat down next to Sarah with her own tears threatening to fall. She looked at Sarah intently, "Sarah, you need to tell me what happened."

"Mark was very upset...see, I should have cleaned the house up, Mark likes it to be clean, I knew this and I still went shopping when I should have stayed here, I should learn that the house really needs to be cleaned...." Sarah rambled uncontrollably.

"Oh my God Sarah!! " Melanie said. "I am so sorry, I had no idea this would happen. But you must stop this, this is no way your fault, you did not ask for this!"

"I did though Mel, I should have cleaned the house, then this would not have happened." she explained.

"That is nonsense Sarah, I don't want to hear that come out of your mouth! No woman deserves to be hit like this. Look at you!"

"Oh Mel, I don't know what to do. If only I had stayed home."

"Sarah, has this happened before?" Melanie asked with concern. Sarah looked at her friend and could not find the word 'yes'. "Sarah answer me!"

Sarah then stood up wincing in pain as she pulled on her back. Unconsciously she put her hand to her back, forgetting her friend was there for a moment. Melanie looked at her friend. "Sarah is your back hurt too?"

"I don't think so, just aches a bit."

"I don't believe you Sarah!" Melanie stood up and raised Sarah's shirt up, and was taken aback at the sight. On her lower back was a bruise about the size of a small melon. "Sarah, you need to get out of here! And you never answered my question!"

All of sudden Sarah turned and looked at her friend. "Yes, ok, are you happy now, yes this happens to me quite often. But Mark doesn't mean it, he loves me! He tells me all the time that he loves me Mel, so he can't possibly mean to hurt me." Sarah yelled at her friend, tears running down her cheeks. Melanie went to her friend and gave her a hug. Sarah clung to Mel tightly. Melanie lead Sarah back to the couch still clinging to her, and helped her sit down.

"Sarah listen to me, you need to get out of here, but you need to do it when Mark is not here." Melanie pleaded with her.

"Leave? I can't leave Mel. Where would I go? I couldn't make it out on my own."

"Sarah, women do it all the time. You have a good job. You and I can share my house. It can work!" You have been in this mess for long enough!"

Sarah looked at her friend with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "It sounds wonderful Mel, but Mark is my husband, and I love him. He is not always like this. Some days he is so sweet and caring, its just..." Sarah stammered.

"Sarah, I know you love him, but Mark seriously needs to get some help, and you can't help him if you are laid up in some hospital because he lost control." Melanie explained. "This is a very serious situation Sarah, not to mention very dangerous. You need to consider leaving and let Mark figure himself out." She finished.

Sarah looked deep into the eyes of her dearest friend. "I know you are right Mel, I just don't know how to go about it." Sarah sighed with a look of helplessness on her face.

Melanie sighed along with her friend and took ahold of her hands. "You just walk away Sarah, that's all. You figure everything else out later. First thing though you have to get yourself out of the situation."

"OK, tomorrow is Monday, I will go then. Mark works till five I think, he is working overtime. I can pack after he leaves, and then I can get a cab to work."

"No Sarah, you need to go now."

"Mel, I can't go now, he could be home any minute, I need time to get things together. Please Mel let me work this out on my own."

"OK Sarah, but I wish you would come with me right now. If he would come to my house then I could just call the police. You will be protected, I promise. Then we can get your things tomorrow while he is working."

"No, no Mel, that will never work. And I think you really need to go quickly, Mark could be here anytime. Please Mel!" Sarah begged.

"Sarah, I think you need to do this now, but I will allow you to do this on your own this time, but...." Just then Mark pulled up in the driveway. They both stopped a moment and stared through the blinds. Sarah gasped and jumped up. She grabbed Melanie's hand and pulled her up. "Mel you need to go now! Use the back door, please hurry." They both quickly got up. Sarah grabbed her bag by the door and Mel headed for the back door. "Tomorrow Sarah...." and out the door she went.