text: Liza laid awake next to her sleeping husband, James. She stared at the ceiling. All she could think of was the day she got married. "The happiest day of her life," or so she thought at the time. She remembered the tears of joy that ran down her smiling face as James said the words that meant he would love and care for Liza always. "What a load of crap," she whispered to herself as she glanced at the bright red numbers on her alarm clock. 6:28. In two minutes she would go back to her crummy excuse for a life, but now she would just lay in bed next to the monster that she married not one year ago and hate him. So that's what she did for the next two minutes. "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP," yelled her alarm clock. She quickly squeezed tears from her eyes and climbed out of bed. Grumbling and kicking off blankets, The Monster climbed out of bed and sluggishly walked over to Liza, who was choosing an outfit from her dresser. He gently grabbed her chin in his hand and turned her face to his. "Good morning," he said in that terrifyingly gentle tone that a mother uses to a child who keeps putting sugar cereal in the cart at the supermarket. A glint of fear escaped from the defiant stare she gave him. She wanted to ignore him. Well... no. She wanted to punch him in the nose, but, alas she was so afraid of what he would do to her. "Good morning," she mumbled. "What was that?" he said with a warning eyebrow raise. "Good morning!" She said, a bit louder, not looking him in the eye. As he leaned in to kiss her, she turned her head away. He harshly grabbed her small, delicate face, in his large, terrifying hands, squeezing so hard his knuckles went white. "I'm in no mood today, Elizabeth. Don't test me!" he spat with the blazing eyes of a dangerous snake. He looked into her fearful green eyes for one more second before shoving her away with such force, she stumbled back against the dresser. "Get up and make breakfast, brat," he growled, walking out of the room, not a hint of mercy in his voice. She did not get up. She sat, eyes wide, palms sweaty, her mind traveling to dark places. Darker and darker it got as she sat on the floor by the dresser, stunned. Finally, she snapped out of it. "Stand," she told herself. "Stand and make breakfast or you know what he'll do to you." She did as she was told and walked to the kitchen. James glared at her. "Don't bother with breakfast now. You were in our room feeling sorry for yourself too long! I have to leave for work!" He yelled, annoyed. Liza looked at the ground. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "That bruise on your eye makes you look horrible. I hope you have enough makeup to cover it," he added, his lips curled into a cruel smile. Liza felt her chest fill with anger. She began to raise her voice. "Well, that bruise wouldn't be there if you hadn't-" she began before James smacked her so hard she fell to the ground. "NO LIZA! THAT UGLY BRUISE WOULDN'T BE THERE IF YOU WOULD DO AS I SAY! THIS IS YOUR FAULT, ELIZABETH! YOUR'S!" he yelled, turning and stomping out the door. After he was gone Liza stood up, her eyes filled with tears, and walked to the medicine cabinet. She grabbed a bottle of pain meds she was prescribed a few years back when she tore her ACL. Between sobs, she dumbed the entire contents of the bottle into her sweaty palm. Her heart began to beat faster and faster, and her head began to spin. She stared at the pills, thinking of everything he had done to her from the time they got married. She walked over to the bathroom sink and filled a glass of water, closed her eyes, then sighed as she dumped it back out again. She lifted the toilet seat and dropped each pill into the toilet bowl. She sobbed on the bathroom floor for quite a while before wiping her tears and walking down the stairs to find her cellphone. She dialed the number of her sister, Jen, whom James had not allowed Liza to speak to since they got married. "Hello?" came her sister's familiar voice from the phone. "Hi, Jenny," Squeaked Liza in a shaky voice. Jen gasped. "Liza? Is that you? I haven't talked to you since the wedding! You never pick up when I call. I've been so hurt, El!" Jenny said in a desperate tone. "Jen... I need help," Liza breathed as the sobs began to return. She told Jenny everything. "Oh El! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why haven't you gone to the police or filed a restraining order?" Jenny asked. "I...I...I was just scared! He would have found me no matter what," Liza sobbed harder. Jenny explained her plan. "Listen, Liza. I'm booking tickets for you to come to stay with me in Utah until we get this figured out. Get on the city bus and head to the airport. I'll handle everything else." Liza didn't know what to say. "El? Can you do that?" Jen insisted. "Yes. Yes! And Jen? Thank you. I've missed you so much." Liza hung up the phone as she slid to the floor. She beamed and closed her eyes as the tears of joy spilled over her eyelids, filled with gratitude, love, and hope.