A Bad Life

The Meeting

Thursday

Stephany woke up on the floor of the bathroom again, retching. Her stomach so unused to food was still purging the $5 meal from McDonalds she had bought yesterday. She hurried to the toilet clutching at the seat, trembling hands barely supporting her until the bout passed. She paused as she thought she heard him move outside the door. When no words or actions came she carefully pealed off her dirty clothes and hopped in the shower, turning on the water til it was almost scalding. He'd used most of their pension money for drugs and alcohol again but at least she'd had the sense to have rent taken from her account automatically. She saved just enough money to pay their power bill and was going to pay it today after her appointment.

The hot water helped ease the pain in her body and the swelling had mostly subsided leaving just bruises where she'd been hit and kicked. She watched the blood from her reopened split lip wash down the drain. Last night had been great she thought, he only smoked pot and had a few beers. He'd been gentle and loving and just held her as they watched movies. She smiled at it. It was good to be loved she thought to herself.

She towelled off and got dressed, walking out to the kitchen she looked for food and found some old bread. She carefully pulled the mold off it before putting the two small slices in the toaster. She spent the next two minutes scrounging around the kitchen for anything to put on it, humming small songs to herself, content that today was going to be a good day. She settled on a small amount of vegemite to help her stomach settle and sat at the table munching on her toast thoughtfully. He was still asleep so she quietly grabbed her wallet and phone and headed out the door.

Lunch time found Stephany sitting in the waiting line at the employment office, she sat on the seats using the free wifi to browse facebook, trying to ignore people staring at her. Her employment officer, David, called her in. Ignoring the stares, she walked down the hall into the office and sat in the offered chair as David shut the door. A big kindly man in his late 40's she oftened enjoyed her trips here but something in his red face worried her. "Alright Steph. Do you want to tell me anything?" She looked up into his kind blue eyes and saw sadness and at this point she realised why people had been staring at her. She'd forgotten her make up. "L-like what, Dave?" David saw her begin to shake and knew he'd be calling the police later. "Stephy I know you've fallen down some steps before but I've never met a set of stairs that will give a woman two black eyes and a split lip. Also it looks like you have'nt eaten in weeks" Stephany just broke down into sobs. "He-he really does love me I swear" she spoke between sobs. "its just I've been letting him down l-lately. He needs his medicine tha-thats all", David sighed as he handed her a box of tissues. He knew abusive relationships but it looked like this asshole had given Stephany Stockholme Syndrome. "OK. Look Steph. I need you to go to see a friend of mine, a few buildings down. I'll call her after this make sure you get in" she sobbed harder at his kind words "just please don't call the police. He wont like that" she bawled. "I wont bit you have to see her. Her name's Clarice. She'll just talk to you ok?" Stephany cried into her tissues and nodded her head. David clicked through the checklist to ensure she got her pension. "Alright Steph. Just 3 buildings down you'll find her. Just say I sent you and they'll let you in to see her". Stephany nodded as she got up and left the building, wiping at the snot and tears clinging to her face. They'll call the cops she thought, but if I don't go, David will call them anyway. Indecision gripped her as she walked the street. I can pay the power first and I can make my mind up as I go. She went to the the post office across the road and was digging through her wallet for the money she knew she'd left in there. I left my wallet on the counter, the thought hit her like a road train. He'd taken the last of the money when she'd been asleep or watching movies. Panic gripped her and tears threatened to fall again from her still puffy eyes. She quickly left the line and rushed out the door. She just knew she had to walk. See someone for help. She knew that the Salvation Army couldn't help anymore. Maybe the lady David was sending her to could help. She quickly went to the office and follkwed Davids instructions. Five minutes later found Stephany on a comfy chair with a coffee in hand and Clarice across from her. "Alright Steph, I'm Clarice but you can just call me Clary" the woman smiled and despite the forboding sensation in her stomach, Stephany felt hope rising in her heart.