I had woken up one night to see a silhouette of Scott. I jerked in fright. Suddenly the door shut and I was in the dark. Then the next thing I know I was in the kitchen. Out of nowhere, I see Scott's shadow on the floor then I was hit with a pan on the back of my head. Screaming on the floor trying to crawl away from him, he said, "That's what you get bitch. You should have done what I told you"
I had no clue what he was talking about. I was in the same horrid house that I've spent years crying and laughing. The house I grew to hate. Well, not the house so much. It's more of the man that stood before me. His hand was gripped around my throat as he lifted me up off the floor. I was gasping for air trying to claw his eyes or his hand. I woke up gasping for air and my heart racing. I panted for air as I took my inhaler from the nightstand drawer taking 3 puffs of air. I took a deep inhale and exhale to slow down my heart rate.
I kept telling myself it was just a dream that it isn't real anymore. I checked the time it was around 12:55. I still had half a sheet of a document I still didn't get to type I drifted off to sleep. I haven't got enough sleep for three days straight. I had forgotten to take my meds. Maybe that's why I had that nightmare. I got up and went to the bathroom on the way there I checked on the kids. They were still asleep. When I got to the bathroom, I wet my face with warm water then just as I looked in the bathroom mirror, I could've sworn I saw his silhouette. But I rubbed my eyes again and he vanished. To double-check I turned around. No one was by the door. I took a breather then headed back to the room and took my antidepressants and Advil for my migraines.
Then I went back to typing up this case document before I headed back to sleep. The next day when I got from the police station and picked up my kids we headed home and there was this woman knocking at the door with a suitcase. With my purse in my hand with my carpets, I asked "Who are you?"
"I'm Melanie Shepherd I work for human services you must be Ms. Martinez correct?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot you were coming." I went up the steps to the front door and shook her hand before opening the door. As the kids and us two went into the house I said
"Why sit down. Make yourself comfortable." I put my police hat on the hook by the door and said "Would you give me a second to get settled?"
"Sure," she said pulling out her laptop. I went upstairs and took off my shoes, then put my gun that was in a case, on the bed along with my handcuffs and taser. After that, I took off my uniform and put my gun and cuffs in the safe that what hidden in my closet that had a code. Then I changed into some sweats and a white shirt. After I got done, I went downstairs and sat on the other couch to talk to the DHS worker. "So, Martinez you work in the forces of Onex PD correct?" Ms. Shepherd asked me.
"Yes"
"That's nice for how long?"
"About a year and a half now"
"Oh, that's good well can you do me a favor and get Mackenzie over here. I need to ask her some questions before I get to you"
"Okay. Mackenzie come here sweetie"
Mackenzie came down the stairs in 3 seconds saying "Yes mama"
"This is Ms. Shepherd she would like to ask you some questions"
"Okay"
She sat down next to me and Ms. S asked Mac "how are you, Mackenzie?"
"I'm good and it's Mac."
"Okay well Mac I have some questions to ask you-Do you mind if we speak alone Ms. Martinez?" she said to Mac reverting to asking me.
"Sure"
"It will just be a few questions"
"Since your mom knows what happened we need to keep it confidential. Sorry it's the law"
"I'll be starting dinner while yall talk," I said to Mac.
"Okay Mama," she said as I gave her a kiss on the side of her forehead.
It worried me on what she might ask Mac and what Mac might say to her. But I will ask Mac what she had asked. I know Mac and we are already in hot water once again I can't afford to lose them; I refuse to. Maybe ten minutes later Mac came to the kitchen and said "Mom she needs to talk to Mason"
"What. Why?"
"I don't know"
"He doesn't know anything that happened"
"No she isn't asking him about it she just asking about who he is."
"Oh okay"
"What did she ask you?"
"My birthday and all that about me."
"okay and about what happened to you?"
"She just asked how many times he...you know...and when should he and why. Also, if I wanted to press charges"
"What no" my heart dropped as soon as she said that
I whispered, "listen baby girl if you want to.... go ahead." I couldn't tell her no because if she wants to put him in jail for it, it's her choice.
"Okay"
"Ima go get Mason"
"Okay"
When Ms. Shepherd was done talking to Mason I came over and told Mac to get Mason my phone so he can play games on it while I talked to the DHS worker. "So, Ms. Martinez-"
"Marie is fine"
"Okay Marie, so what is your date of birth?"
"June, 30th 1993"
"I already have the street and all. So, to the questions I see here you are divorced?"
"Um....yes. My ex-husband and I weren't working well so we split"
"Okay so um it was told that mockeries told her therapist that um he used to beat on you. Is that correct?"
"Uh... that um yes"
"And how long was that going on?"
"For a little while until I left him."
"So, he willingly signed the divorce papers?"
"Yes, he thought it was best as well"
"And you two don't share custody of the children?"
"No, we don't"
"Okay, now I see. It says that you made a restraining order against him. Why is it that?"
"I was a mother wanting to protect my children so I had to do what a mom had to do."
"I understand"
"So, Mackenzie tells me that she wanted to press charges against him but now she doesn't want to because she doesn't want you to feel hurt anymore"
"Awe she didn't have to do that."
"Well I had told her that if she wanted to press charges, we would have to ask her what exactly happened and they will have to find him and bring him here. But it seemed like she was traumatized by it so she said "no"
"I understand why. But I guarantee that she is okay. We have a close bond."
"How sweet. Do you ever see the past affect her now?"
"No"
"And Mason?"
"He is a happy child every day"
"And...you"
"Me....um...I have my days but as a police officer you have to put that aside to focus on the good"
"May I ask how does your previous marriage affect you in the fields?"
"Some days are hard but I okay I will be okay"
"What happened to your hand?"
"Since when did this become about me. This is about my daughter, not me."
"Okay, I'm sorry I asked ma'am um...w-would you bring Mackenzie over here so I can ask her one last question?"
"Sure"
"Mac, come here Nena," I said to Mackenzie who was up in her room. She came down and said, "Yeah mom?"
"Come sit she have one more question to ask you"
"Okay"
She sat next to me then Ms. Shepherd asked "Okay so Mac...this is your final decision. Do you want to press charges or not?"
"No"
"Okay sign this paper and I will let lawyers know tomorrow"
"Okay"
When the lady left Mac said "Look mom I didn't mean to cause this to happen again"
"It's fine baby, but you have to learn to know when to bite your tongue. Why didn't you press charges?"
"Although my heart isn't at peace, I cared about you being happy more. I don't want you to suffer more than you are now. That will just add more to your plate and I didn't want to go through the whole process. You know my memory sucks and if I go on that stand I'ma freeze up and I don't know if I could do that"
"Give me a hug sweetheart" she came into my embrace and I kissed her cheek. "Don't worry about me anymore. Mami is strong she is a warrior and so are you. I raised you better. If you ever need to talk please don't hesitate to call and talk to me."
"I know mama. I love you"
"I love you to baby girl"
YOU ARE READING
Stone Cold Heart
ChickLitEvery mother has her weakness and that may sometimes bring her down but when it comes to their baby, nothing will stop her from fighting for them. Even if it means risking her life. "Don't do it.... think about your kids. Think about how far you've...
