hat sent her stumbling into the kitchen counter, the edge biting into her rib. The p

you're somebody?" Dan's voice roared th

red. But she didn't cry-not any

d, falling to her knees to

muttered, cracking open

fault, though he was the one driving drunk. After that, everything had gone to hell. Dan had become her guard

t months passed, and the hits kept coming. Not just slaps. Punches. Shoves. Kicks to her side

he streets. And at least at Dan's house, there was f

Quiet. Careful. Until last

he gray light of early morning. Her body ached in a different way

stood by the window, shirtless, drawing back the curtain just enough to peek out. The tensi

o leave?" she

" he replied w

macy they shared last night still lingered on her skin, but now

in the next town. It's quiet. Protected

sank. "You're t

be safe. They'll he

her voice hesitant. "What if he finds m

he rushed on. "I can clean or

ssion didn't change, but something in h

company," he

ying to hide the sting

e building was old but neat, with yellow paint on the walls and flowers blooming in pots on the steps

ugh a lot," Alex

woman said kindly. "

, pulling something from his poc

e in trouble," he said,

No take care. No goodbye. He

the steps long a

*

s and a window that overlooked the garden. She unpacked slowly,

ache. She missed the rough texture of his voice, the gentleness hidden beneat

ere other memori

e he made her miss school because her face was too bruised. She had end

x h

w he w

a pretentious monster that only wanted to hurt her. He

on the door

caretaker peeked in. "

urrowed. "

sed. "Didn't say. Just

walked to the front desk,

e said, her

answered her.

" came Dan's voic