Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 9

The sun had rose and Sarah woke up, she felt as if she had been hit by a freight train. She couldn't remember much of what happened. She raised her body from the bed, and looked at the clock. She only had two hours before she had to work, and she knew she could not drag herself there. She got up and walked to the mirror, she hated to see herself looking the way she did. It didn't appear that Mark did much more damage to her face. But he violated her and that was worse than any other form of abuse. She made her way to the phone to call work, and hoped they would understand. She slowly dialed the numbers.

"Hello...Sinclair industries, may I help you..?

"Yes, Nancy, this is Sarah..."

"Well good morning Sarah, how are you?"

"Dreadful Nan, I won't be able to make it to work today, I think I have gotten ahold of a stomach flu." she lied.

"Awww, well Sarah I am sorry to hear that, you take all the time you need."

"Thanks Nan, I appreciate that"

Sarah hung up the phone, and sat at the table, once again a horrid mess made by her wonderful husband. She began clearing it up, and then stopped. She suddenly realized that today was the day. Today she would be ending this nightmare. Without any further thought she quickly ran into the bedroom. She pulled out a suitcase and went to her closet and vigorously began throwing clothing into it. She then went and got another suitcase and an empty box that was in there. She moved to the dresser and began throwing those clothes into the box. She heard a knock at the door, and was unsure on whether or not to answer it. She then heard Melanie on the other side of the door. "Sarah open up!"

"I am coming Mel, hold on.." she hurried to the door and opened it to her best friend! She quickly gave Melanie a hug.

"Wow what was that for?"

"Mel, come here and sit down for a sec..." Sarah steered her friend to the couch. "Mel, it happened again last night..."

"He hit you again..."

"Shhh Mel, let me finish first..." Sarah let out a sigh and began to tell Melanie the events of the prior evening. "Mel, Mark raped me last night."

Melanie jumped up and yelled, "He did what?" She yelled into Sarah's face.

"Mel, please sit down, I am alright." Melanie slowly sat down. "He pretty much knocked me out, I came to a few times while it was happening, but most of it is still pretty unclear..." Sarah's tears began to fall once again. Melanie leaned over and hugged her dearest friend for a long time.

 Sarah realized that she had better finish doing her packing, so she pushed herself away from Mel and stood up wiping her tears. "Well my dear friend, are you up to helping me?"

"Helping you?" Melanie asked with surprise.

"Yes, I am getting out and getting out now while I am still alive."

A big smile cascaded Melanie's face. "Really? This is wonderful Sarah!"

"Well come on we have to be quick, I don't want Mark to decide to come home in the middle of me packing."

****

"Well that looks to be all of it Mel. Thanks for helping me"

"Don't mention it, I am glad to help you, you know that!"

"Oh Mel, do you think everything will be ok?"

"Don't you worry darlin, everything will be ok now." Sarah began looking frantically around the room.

"What are you looking for Sarah?"

"My clothes from last night..."

"Well did we pack them?" Melanie asked concerned at her friends urgency.

"No, we didn't, wait the bathroom, I got a shower last night before bed, they must be in there."

Sarah rushed into the bathroom.

"Sarah what is it?" Melanie asked. Sarah returned from the bathroom with her clothing, and pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Melanie.

"Look at this."

Melanie looked at it. "Who is Steve?"

"Mel, it was unbelievable!" Sarah stopped. "Listen, I will tell you all about it after we get to your house."

They worked quickly getting things over to Melanie's house. One last walk through the house reminded Sarah that this would be the last time she was in her home. This home was one that she and Mark had worked so hard for. If it hadn't been for the bad memories that were held within this house, Sarah might have broke down and decided to stay. She slowly sat down on the couch and looked around the room. Mark hadn't always been bad. She remembered when he carried her through the doorway on their wedding night. How they made sweet love that night. How he made her feel like a princess. She remembered how they happily went out and bought their new furniture, and happily made their house a home.

She remembered how time and time again he told her 'I love you'. None of that mattered anymore after he hit her the first time. How he said he was sorry and tried to kiss the hurt away. How she accepted his apology time and time again, until the love for him had withered away. And now it comes to this, she leaves her home and everything in it. She would miss it, but she wouldn't miss the hurt and all the tears she wasted on him. She supposed she still held some love for him, you usually always do. After all he was supposed to be her soul mate, her one true love.

"Sarah come on hon..." Melanie brought her back to the present. Sarah stood up, walked to the hall table and laid her wedding ring there with tears once again running down her cheeks. Then she took one last look around the room, and walked out of her nightmare, hoping to never return.