friends hit the road heading towards the desert country of the southwest towards El Paso, Texas.
Callie had fallen asleep in the back seat while Eva drove. The sun was up now, and Eva believed they were far enough away from New York that it was safe to stop for something to eat. Funny how everything was relative. As beatings go, especially the kind she was used to, Callie’s was relatively minor. A little blood, a few bruises, some swelling. By leaving, hopefully Callie would never have to suffer from the internal damage that was a part of every battered woman’s life. Not broken bones or internal bleeding, both of which she’d experienced firsthand. Even those injuries faded with time. It was the damage to the soul that never really healed. She knew all about that.
Callie started to stir and sat up with a groan. “Where are we? I can’t believe it’s morning already and that I slept through the night. I’m so sorry you had to drive this whole time by yourself. You must be exhausted, Evita.
“Actually, I’m wired. I’m also hopeful for the first time in a long time. I thought we might stop for breakfast at the next town. How sore are you, sweetie?”
“I’ve been better, that’s for sure, but I’ll make it. Reminds me of the time I got thrown from a horse at the ranch. Everything hurts. How’s the swelling look?”
“I’ve seen worse, but I know how that must hurt. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be ok. I’m more pissed off, than anything else. How could I be so stupid? How could I not see this coming? No man has ever hit me in my life. How did he fool me like that? How could I be so blind, so stupid?”
“Believe it or not, I can answer all those questions and more. It starts with the little things. Asking you to change your outfit, because he doesn’t want you showing off what belongs to him alone. At first it seems kind of nice that someone loves you so much that he is possessive of you and doesn’t want to share you. You think he cherishes you and wants to protect you.”
“Then, he starts monopolizing your time, gets you to cancel get togethers with your girlfriends. At first you don’t really notice, because he fills your time by taking you to all the nicest places and spares no expense on your outings together. He convinces you that he thinks you hung the moon and wants nothing more than to make you the happiest woman in the world, if you’ll only marry him, and he buys you a beautiful ring. You think you’ve found Prince Charming, and before you know it, you give up your career and turn over all your money and your freedom to him, let him make all your decisions for you.”
“Then one day, the façade starts to slip. You finally decide to question something or you dare to disagree, and he gets mad and screams obscenities at you, tells you you’re stupid. You’re shocked, and he apologizes, and you forgive him. After all, he has a stressful job, so you cut him some slack. Before long, he doesn’t quit at yelling. Before long, it escalates into physical abuse, not to mention the continued emotional abuse. But by the time that happens, he’s made sure that he’s your whole world. You don’t have any friends anymore, you don’t have a job. You didn’t prepare for any other future other than the one he promised you. He’s stripped you of your self confidence and your self-respect. You’ve somehow lost yourself, the person you were, and there’s nothing left to do but accept it.”
“Sure, you try to fight back initially. You call the cops, you talk to a lawyer, you try to leave. But it’s all just bullshit. Nobody helps you. Charges are dropped, lawyers and judges are bought off or convinced that you’re lying. Money talks, you know? I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t scared, Callie. I’m scared all the time, and I’m tired of
Callie had fallen asleep in the back seat while Eva drove. The sun was up now, and Eva believed they were far enough away from New York that it was safe to stop for something to eat. Funny how everything was relative. As beatings go, especially the kind she was used to, Callie’s was relatively minor. A little blood, a few bruises, some swelling. By leaving, hopefully Callie would never have to suffer from the internal damage that was a part of every battered woman’s life. Not broken bones or internal bleeding, both of which she’d experienced firsthand. Even those injuries faded with time. It was the damage to the soul that never really healed. She knew all about that.
Callie started to stir and sat up with a groan. “Where are we? I can’t believe it’s morning already and that I slept through the night. I’m so sorry you had to drive this whole time by yourself. You must be exhausted, Evita.
“Actually, I’m wired. I’m also hopeful for the first time in a long time. I thought we might stop for breakfast at the next town. How sore are you, sweetie?”
“I’ve been better, that’s for sure, but I’ll make it. Reminds me of the time I got thrown from a horse at the ranch. Everything hurts. How’s the swelling look?”
“I’ve seen worse, but I know how that must hurt. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be ok. I’m more pissed off, than anything else. How could I be so stupid? How could I not see this coming? No man has ever hit me in my life. How did he fool me like that? How could I be so blind, so stupid?”
“Believe it or not, I can answer all those questions and more. It starts with the little things. Asking you to change your outfit, because he doesn’t want you showing off what belongs to him alone. At first it seems kind of nice that someone loves you so much that he is possessive of you and doesn’t want to share you. You think he cherishes you and wants to protect you.”
“Then, he starts monopolizing your time, gets you to cancel get togethers with your girlfriends. At first you don’t really notice, because he fills your time by taking you to all the nicest places and spares no expense on your outings together. He convinces you that he thinks you hung the moon and wants nothing more than to make you the happiest woman in the world, if you’ll only marry him, and he buys you a beautiful ring. You think you’ve found Prince Charming, and before you know it, you give up your career and turn over all your money and your freedom to him, let him make all your decisions for you.”
“Then one day, the façade starts to slip. You finally decide to question something or you dare to disagree, and he gets mad and screams obscenities at you, tells you you’re stupid. You’re shocked, and he apologizes, and you forgive him. After all, he has a stressful job, so you cut him some slack. Before long, he doesn’t quit at yelling. Before long, it escalates into physical abuse, not to mention the continued emotional abuse. But by the time that happens, he’s made sure that he’s your whole world. You don’t have any friends anymore, you don’t have a job. You didn’t prepare for any other future other than the one he promised you. He’s stripped you of your self confidence and your self-respect. You’ve somehow lost yourself, the person you were, and there’s nothing left to do but accept it.”
“Sure, you try to fight back initially. You call the cops, you talk to a lawyer, you try to leave. But it’s all just bullshit. Nobody helps you. Charges are dropped, lawyers and judges are bought off or convinced that you’re lying. Money talks, you know? I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t scared, Callie. I’m scared all the time, and I’m tired of
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