Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 5

Sarah quickly hung the dress in the closet, and threw the bag in the trash. She then made her way to the bed, and laid down. She pretended to sleep as she heard Mark make his way into the bedroom. He quietly walked to the bed and sat down next to Sarah and brushed the hair back off of her face. 

"Sarah.." he whispered. "are you awake sweetheart?" Sarah slowly opened her eyesand looked at her husband of six years. "Are you going to fix dinner soon honey?" Sarah could not believe what she was hearing.

"Yes Mark, what would you like for dinner?" she asked as she slowly sat up feeling every bruise that now marked her body.

"Well how bout you cook up that nice juicy steak for me. Maybe toss a salad too. That really sounds good to me." Sarah stood up at the same time Mark did. She did not look at him, only brushed past him.

"I'll let you know when it is done!" she said on the way out of the bedroom door.

"Thanks honey, hey would you mind running to the store, we are all out of steak sauce?" he caught up to her and handed her a ten dollar bill.

She couldn't help to think that was her money he was handing to her, but she said nothing, her body took all it could already. "Uh...sure not a problem Mark." She walked to the door and put her shoes on, and was ready to go, when Mark stopped her.

"Honey don't you think you should put some make up on and try to cover that bruise up?"

"Why, I will just tell everyone what I always tell them, 'I walked into a door' they never guess that my wonderful husband just beat me."she said sarcastically and left, careful not to slam the door. As usual Mark left the keys in the ignition. She had warned him repeatedly that someone was going to take the car one of these days. She got in and drove off to the store, relieved that she was not in the same house as him. A million thoughts went through her head as she drove the darkened deserted streets. How was she going to be able to survive on her own. Mark had always provided for her, she didn't have to buy to many things for herself. She had also realized she was justifying his actions. She knew that was something she had to stop doing. She also knew that she had, at that moment, stopped loving him a long time ago, so why does she still defend him? She knew she was insecure, but if she didn't find some security soon, she would be lost in dire sadness for the rest of her life.

Sarah finally pulled up outside of the Super Mart. She shut down the car, and was sure to pull the keys out from the ignition. She just stuck them in her pocket since she never grabbed her purse, why should she Mark had taken all of her money. "Well I had better hurry up." she said as she got out of the car. Sarah walked up to the doors, and entered the store. She quickly walked to the aisle she needed she didn't want people asking her about her misfortunate face. She grabbed the steak sauce, and headed back to checkout, careful to leave her head down in attempts of hiding her injuries. Just before she got to the check out she bumped into a man who had been heading to the aisle she just left.

"Oh excuse me Sir!" she said.

"It is quite alright ma'am." he said. His voice was so deep, yet had that appealing raspiness. She just had to look at him. Sarah raised her eyes to him and saw before her the most stunning man she had ever laid eyes on in her entire life. She started to turn away to head to
the check out when he stopped her.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" He asked with slight concern in his voice.

"Yes," Sarah had to clear her throat and kept her head turned away from him. "I am quite alright, and thank you." She headed off to the check out and chose her place in line. Something in front was slowing it up, as she glanced over to the other lines they were just as long as the one she had chosen. She had to wonder if everyone ran out of something this late at night. She was looking at her watch, and waiting patiently, when she heard that same voice behind her. "I think they could use some help eh?"

"Uhhhh...yes it looks like it." Sarah stuttered. The line began moving again, when soon it was Sarah's turn. She placed the steak sauce on the counter, and reached into her pocket to retrieve the ten dollars. As she pulled her hand out something had fallen from her jacket, and she had not noticed at all.

"Three fifty seven please Ma'am." Sarah gave her the money and accepted her changed, grabbed her bag and practically ran off. She hurried to her car and quickly climbed in hoping the stranger would not catch up to her. With her heart racing fast she gunned it out of the parking lot. The stranger quickly ran out the door to catch Sarah, as he had picked her license up off the floor. He was too late, she had just pulled out of the parking lot. 

"Damn!" he whispered. And he headed to his own car.