The Banishing Read Free Page A

cut on Melissa’s lip and fell silent, stunned.
    “For five years, he was the perfect man, perfect husband. He never laid a finger on me.”
    “Until now.”
    Melissa felt a tidal wave of relief as she began to loosen up, began to feel the weight of the truth fall from her. It was the first time she had admitted it to anybody, and despite her anxiety about where it might lead, what letting go of it all might mean, she felt good. “Until a few months ago. I think it started when we moved into the new house.”
    “You’ve been there—what? A year now?”
    Melissa looked over at her friend, nodding hesitantly.
    “He’s been hitting you the whole time?”
    Melissa rolled her eyes. “Keep it down. I don’t want people hearing.” Melissa fell silent as a group of nurses passed them, clustered together in a tight group, talking and laughing. After they disappeared around the corner of the building, Melissa finally said, “No, he hasn’t been hitting me the whole time, but he started changing around that time. At first, I thought it might just be the stress of moving. You know, it was a struggle, financially…” Melissa paused, thinking back to the time—a time when things were normal, good, even perfect. “It all just changed.”
    Sharon dropped her cigarette to the ground, stubbing it out with her foot. “How do you mean?”
    “Well, it went from him just being kind of moody and snapping at me now and then, to getting really angry over stupid things. Then, he got all funny about me spending time with you, like he didn’t want me having friends.”
    “Sounds like the guy is a nut.”
    “Then, the last couple of months he started…you know, pushing me a bit. At first, just a slap across the face—”
    “Just? There is no just about it, Mel. What he’s doing to you is—”
    Melissa raised her hand in an attempt to stop Sharon. “Yes, I know. Don’t you think I know? Anything you say, I’ve already thought it.”
    “So, he started hitting you?”
    “Yeah. A few weeks ago, but today was the worst.”
    Sharon leaned in close, putting her arm around Melissa’s shoulders. “Babe, you need to get out. You know that? If he can do this to you—the woman he is supposed to love—then he’s dangerous. Out of control.”
    “That’s what I’m scared of.”
    “You should be!”
    “Thanks,” Melissa said. “That makes me feel great.”
    “Seriously, he’s dangerous. Leave him. Even if you end up staying at my place. Or a hotel or something.”
    “You know, I’ve actually thought about leaving him,” she confessed, motioning for them to walk back to the hospital. It was almost 1:00 PM, signaling the end of their break, and Melissa knew she couldn’t risk being late. Again. Her ward manager was already pissed off about her late arrival that morning.
    “I feel a ‘but’ coming on,” she said, linking arms with Melissa as they walked.
    “There is a ‘but’. Of course there is. I’ve known him for years. We were best friends. So close. Closer to me than anybody has ever been. As crazy as it sounds, after what I’ve just told you, I love him. What if there is something wrong, and I can get him help? What if things can get back to the way they once were?”
    Sharon sighed and shook her head. “That’s a lot of ‘ifs’ and a hell of a lot of bruises while you’re waiting for your answer.”
    Melissa knew she was right, but something kept her back, stopped her from moving on.
    * * * *
    The rest of the shift passed uneventfully. Sharon had practically pleaded with her to not go home and to leave Mark, but despite her own fear and wanting to do everything she knew she should, she left for home with the promise of phoning Sharon if anything happened that night.
    It was almost dark when she left the hospital and stepped into the parking lot. The rain had eased off, dissolving resignedly into a light drizzle. Pulling out of the almost empty parking lot, Melissa wondered what the night ahead held for