"You're too attached to your parents." Steven complained angrily before taking a bite from his cheeseburger. 

It was Friday evening, and we were having another date night. This time, at a pizza and burger joint in town. My mind was still thinking back about my earlier conversation with Salvador, and I knew he was right about everything. I wanted to be free to make my own decisions about my life, and that meant I would have to take action. 

"I know." I responded nonchalantly. I knew my husband would be angry about the sudden news of me having to leave for my older brother's wedding next Monday. My parents had steamrolled over him by saying I had to be there as the maid of honor, and that he would have to take time off from work and look after Oliver while I was gone because we couldn't take him with us. I laughed internally, since Steven would be even more furious if I were to burst out laughing at him in public. 

"So, you're agreeing with me?" He asked in a surprised tone. He hadn't expected me to go along with what he was saying. 

"Yes, I am." I replied. "They're definitely too overly involved in our marriage..." I held my breath before spitting out the rest of my thoughts to him. "...they want us to stay married, and I want a divorce." 

Steven smiled, as if he had expected me to say that. "You'll be the sinner if you divorce me, and they'll turn their backs on you. Same with the church." He replied smugly before taking another large bite from his dinner and chewing carefully as he studied me through slitted brown eyes.

"I don't think I care anymore." I stated calmly. "That would still be better than being married to you." 

His face suddenly turned red hot with anger, but because we were out in public, he closed his eyes and tried to hold in his rage by breathing slowly. "Don't.... test... me..." He growled between gritted teeth. 

"Or what?" I prodded, my voice raising slightly in anger. "Or you'll lock me in our bedroom? Take away my phone?" I grinned back. "I've already been living in Hell for the past six years, what else can you possibly do to me?" 

It wasn't a dream this time. I was actually standing up for myself, and it felt incredible. We both knew that being in public meant he couldn't immediately attack me and force me to submit, and he hated that I was, for once, in control of the situation. 

"And I've already moved my belongings to a safe location." I continued as I glared at him from across the table. "So you can't destroy anything of mine once we get home." 

Earlier that day, before Steven and Oliver got home from work, Salvador had helped me move my artwork, violin, laptop, favorite clothes, and other personal items to the spare bedroom in he and Amber's basement. I was so grateful to them for opening their home up to me as a sanctuary, that I had shed a few tears as I looked at what could potentially become Oliver and I's new bedroom. 

It was time to stop complaining about my situation and actually take charge to change it. 

"Shy..." 

I looked at my husband's face and saw that it was like a pimple that was about ready to pop. He was struggling so much to contain his rage, that his whole body was shaking. I noticed that his fingers had curled into fists and decided that I needed to leave before he lost control and grew violent.

I stopped looking at him and instead began texting Salvador and Amber in a group chat to come pick me up, and gave them the address of the restaurant. 

Ping!

"On the way." Amber messaged me back.

"Who was that?" Steven barked at me furiously. "What did you write?" 

Despite my husband glaring daggers at me from across the table, I felt cool, calm and collected. I needed to stall until Amber got there to pick me up, so I threw out some diversions. 

"I'm telling my parents that I'll go with them to the wedding next week," I lied, "and that I don't want to spend the night with you tonight or tomorrow night." That part was definitely true. 

"We can figure this out..." Steven suddenly began pleading with me. He had changed tactics since I talked about involving my parents. Plus, brute force wasn't going to be allowed in a public place. "Don't leave me." He tried to make himself appear as pathetic as possible to pin me as the villain and make me feel guilt. I knew all of his tricks by now, and I was done with all of them. 

As he continued to blubber on about how much he loved me, I swiveled my head to the front of the restaurant and spotted Amber's car sitting on the sidewalk Salvador was in the driver's seat and Amber was sitting in the back, both were staring at the restaurant trying to find me. I also noticed that some other customers seated around us were now beginning to stare at us since Steven had just started sobbing loudly.

"I'm leaving. Goodbye." I said curtly before walking towards the front of the restaurant. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Steven spring up from his seat and come lumbering after me. I was too quick, however, as I was already sliding into the passenger seat and closed the door quickly behind me before locking it with a click of a button. 

Salvador floored the car forward and we escaped down the street, leaving Steven gawking at us and flailing his fists in fury. I could hardly believe this was happening, it was like finding myself in an action film where I had jumped into a getaway car and had narrowly escaped death by a few seconds. I slowly waved to Steven through the window before we turned a corner and disappeared from view. The last thing I saw were his eyes, black as the grim reaper, glaring daggers at me, and his face cast in an ominous shadow. 

"He's going to kill me." I laughed aloud. "Oh, I am so dead!" My whole body was shaking from the adrenaline, and my heart began to hurt as I thought about how upset my family was going to be from my actions. 

"It's going to be okay." Salvador reassured me as he placed a hand on my knee and gently squeezed it. 

"You can count on us." Amber smiled at me from the back seat as she placed a hand on my shoulder. 

This was the safest I had felt in a long time. I felt my body begin to relax as I sank into the cushioned seat. I was actually going to get away from Steven this time. I had something now that I hadn't before... support from friends.  

However, I knew the next part was going to be even more difficult. 

"I have to get Oliver from my parents." I said aloud in a slightly panicked tone. My parents were going to be furious with me for not only causing a scene out in public, but also for wanting to separate from Stephen just a few days before we were supposed to fly out for my older brother's wedding. Despite me knowing I was at the end of my rope and that I wanted my freedom from my abusive marriage more than anything, I was still terrified of enduring my family's wrath. 

"Okay, I remember how to get there." Salvador responded calmly. 

As we flew down the street, I texted my Mom that I was going to pick up my son and to have him ready to go in five minutes. She did not respond immediately, which was odd behavior for her since she always got back to me promptly. 

"Steven's probably talking to my parents right now." I murmured quietly to myself. I could feel my heart sinking into my stomach and forming into knots. I knew what was awaiting me, and every fiber of my being quaked with dread. I had a feeling that my parents weren't going to give me my son, and that they were going to all gang up on me and lecture me into submission. I didn't know if I was brave enough to withstand it and not cave to their demands, but I was about to find out. 

When we pulled into the long driveway of my parent's house, I took a deep breath. 

"We'll be here waiting for you." Amber said reassuringly from behind me before letting go of my shoulder. 

"Thank you guys." I said gratefully. 

I then immediately hopped out and made my way to the back door. Before I even had a chance to knock, my Mom opened it. Her tall body towered over me like a looming shadow. Without even looking up into her face, I knew she was seething with rage internally. 

"Shy, we need to talk." She said in a monotone voice.  

"Can I have Oliver, please?" I asked with trepidation in my voice. 

"Shy, come on." She held the door wide open for me. 

I didn't want to go in. I knew what was awaiting me, but I had to get Oliver. I held my breath and stepped inside.