I'm a Survivor: A Carol Peleteir Story

Chapter 9 "The Ending to Something Good"

"Why did you leave, woman?" Ed said, grabbing onto my arm. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry Ed--" he slapped me across the face. I fell to the floor and pinned me down as Sophia huddled in the corner. "Ed--Don't! You're scaring Sophia--" he slapped me again.

"Shut the hell up!" He picked me up by my throat, and pinned me to the wall.

"Sophia--Go to your room." She nodded and ran to her room, and locked the door.

"Ed," he grabbed onto my leg. "Please...you're drunk--" he slammed me to the floor. I started to cry as he pinned me down.

"Why'd you go to the shelter woman?!" He hit me across the face. "Don't you love me anymore?" He put his face against mine, reeking of alcohol.

"I do but--" he hit me again, got up and kicked my side.

"You don't love me!" He kicked me again as I cried out. "You left me for a damn center!" He kicked my gut, and drug me to my feet.

He slammed me across the table, glass cutting my flesh, bleeding.

He scoffed and spit on my face, and poured liquor on my wounds and started to chuckle to himself. "Look at you." He knelt down next to me. "You're stuck with me." He kicked me against my ribs. I yelped as he knelt back to my level. "You won't find anyone." He kicked me again. "You're ugly." He scoffed and kicked me again. "I'm gonna go to the bar." He walked to the door. "When I come back, you better be here."

He slammed the door and got in his car.

I opened my eyes.

**********

"Carol.." Lori said, shaking my arm. "You alright?"

I sat up, and took a breath, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "I'm fine..just another nightmare is all.."

"Oh.." She sat down beside me. "Ed?"

I nodded, and started to cry again. "Even after he's dead..he still hurts me.."

She put her hand on my shoulder. "Hey," she tried to smile. "I'm here whenever you need me."

"Thank you." I sniffled, and wrapped my jacket around me. "I appreciate it."

She sat up. "Let's go get some eggs eh?" I nodded and we walked out to see Sophia and Carl playing Chess in the reck-room.

"Sophia," I tapped her shoulder. "You hungry?" She nodded and sat up, clenching her doll.

"Come on Carl." She said, and the both ran to the dining hall.

"The eggs smell good." I said.

Lori chuckled. "Better than I could make." We both laughed and sat down. Daryl sat down beside me.

T-Dog gave Sophia and I some eggs, and a few pieces of bacon. "Thank you very much, T-Dog." I smiled and Dug in along with Sophia.

Jenner came walking in, and sat down, and stared at everyone.

Glenn slammed his head on the table. "Don't ever let me drink again." He groaned and everyone laughed.

Andrea sat down, with an attitude and ate silently. Dale sat beside her.

Shane walked in, liquor in his hand and three claw marks on his neck.

"Whoa." T-Dog said. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I must have done it in my sleep." He said, and sat down, glaring at Lori, who awkwardly ate her bacon.

"That's not like you." Rick said. "Never saw you do that before."