Tina was sitting on the edge of Christie’s bed with Christie is her lap holding her tight, slowly letting tears run down her face.

Marcus: I know you are scared but I will protect you…I am a family lawyer I can have him thrown in jail immediately where he can never hurt you again you know that…but I can’t do it without your help.

Tina was thinking hard about what Marcus was saying to her…in her heart she knew he was right but her mind couldn’t get her to press the charges needed. Not only didn’t she want to put her husband behind bars but she also feared the outcome.

Tina: There’s nothing to help.

Marcus: What do you mean?

Tina: He didn’t do this. I fell that’s the truth.

Marcus: ON WHAT HIS FIST!! Tina surely you can’t be that stupid to protect him.

Tina: that’s what I will tell them Marcus…that this was all a misunderstanding and I fell.

Marcus: but you already told them that he did this to you…

Tina cuts him off.

Tina: well I will say that I lied and I don’t know why.

Marcus looked at Tina like she was the dumbest woman on the planet…here she was covering for a domestic abuser. Tina couldn’t stand the look Marcus was giving her and decided to break the tension.

Tina: Marcus please! Im sorry I involved you in this it was never my intentions…but can you please leave, we will be safe now.

Marcus: Like hell I will, what if he comes back…then what??

Tina: Then I will call the cops!

Marcus: and tell them what…you’re falling again on his fist!

Tina: Please Marcus!

Marcus: Fine! Tina remember this…when you finally decide to talk, it may just be too late…you think about that.

Marcus left the room and out the door in rage.

Tina looked down at her daughter Christie who had fallen asleep in her lap. This little girl had seen a lot in the last year no matter how much she tried to hide things from her. Tina slowly laid her daughter down in the bed and made her way into the living room to double lock all the doors and windows. Truth be told she was scared to death. Suddenly she began thinking about Christie’s friend Angelica and her mother, she knew she would have to go over there tomorrow and apologize for all of this and for Angie being there possibly in harm’s way.