Leaving Scars

“Richard, you’re hurting me,” I said. His eyes never left mine. I felt tears on my face. “You’re hurting me,” I said a little louder, hoping he’d let me go. But he was too furious.

“You’re just a stupid piece of shit,” he said quietly, but dangerously.

“Let me go!” I yelled and wrenched myself from his grasp. Instant pain came to my arms, and I put a hand to the back of one, and looked at it. Red. I looked at Richard, then at my hand.

He tried to get a paper towel and press it on there, but as soon as he had come within two yards of me I stopped him.

“No,” I said. “Don’t come near me. Don’t touch me. Leave me alone.” He looked dumbfounded.

“Katherine-” he reached out to me, pleading. I wanted to take his huge hands with my tiny ones and pull him to me and just hug him, but I wouldn’t.

“No,” I said firmly. “Stay away.”