I grab for a tissue. Joe, finally has fallen to a slumber. I go to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. I wince as I blot my upper lip, trying to stop the bleeding. It was a rough day at work for Joe. He was nearly fired today. He came home and took his anger out on me.
This time I got it in the ribs, arm and lip. I look down at my skin. The bruises already forming. The one on my arm was taking the shape of his meaty fingers from when he grabbed me and pulled me back when I had tried to get away from him.
I think about things as I blot my lip, wincing at the pain of the alcohol against the cut. I am all alone these days. Even though I live with somebody, no matter how terrible, I'm lonely. I don't have anyone to talk to. I haven't spoken to my family since me and Joe started dating.
They never approved of him and at that time he was still charming and I had fallen in love with him. I chose him over my family and they discontinued a relationship with me; kicking me out, thus causing me to move in with him.
Once I moved in, things went slowly downhill. But at that point, I had already cut off my relationships with family and friends so I couldn't leave Joe. I had nowhere else to go, I was trapped.
My lip finally stops bleeding. I jump when I hear Joe let out a snore. I'm always jumpy, always looking to avoid confrontation.
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