"How about you go play with Smiley?" I set her down and she ran off toward her room. Smiley was the name of her stuffed cat.

I stared down at Jake with utter disgust. I wanted to kick him. I tried carrying him to his room but I couldn't lift him.

I stood at the doorway of Heather's room, watching her play. She was my only joy. She looked up at me and hugged her cat, giggling. I sat down next to her, stroking her chin-length blonde hair.

A while later, Jake came in, looking furious. He started yelling at me for leaving him on the floor, making Heather cry. I tried to get him to stop but he kept getting louder and louder, slowly walking toward me. Once he was an arm-length away he slapped me across the face, hard.

Heather ran up and started hitting his shin. "Daddy, stop!!" She screamed. He kicked her off his leg and sent her into a pile of toys, mostly stuffed animals. I dashed over and held her in my arms, crying myself.

"Heather, look at me, are you okay?!" I asked frantically. She whimpered and nodded, touching my face. I knew she was tougher than most kids her age, or kids in general, but she continued to shock and impress me.

"Mummy, it's red!" she told me, bringing her hand back, coated with blood. He must have slapped me with his ring on his hand. I didn't know why he still wore it. Maybe he couldn't get it off.

He stomped toward me again, his hands balled into fists. I laid Heather behind me, acting as a shield as he struck me across the face. Repeatedly.

<^>

"Linda wake up!!" Paul screamed at me, shaking my shoulders. All the pain fell away as he wrapped his arms around me. I was crying my eyes out and shaking madly but he held me closer, whispering reassuringly in my ear.