Author: Tiffany

Prologue

    His hand flew forward and a piercing scream filled the silence of the old McCorger house.  Jessica Ann fell backward into the dresser and while choking back tears; she ran to the corner of the couple’s bedroom and sank to the floor.  A part of her wanted to scream again, but she knew that would only bring her more pain.  She managed to bring her knees up and burrow her head before her husband could kick her in the face.  He struck her head violently with his foot and she let out a yelp.  After roaring “Bitch” and stomping off, Tad left in his old Ford truck.  Jessica was left to weep alone; while Tad set out into the night to find someone else to satisfy his need.  
    Shayla Mannalie waited impatiently until she heard a vehicle pulling up to her house.  She ran out excitedly to see her boyfriend Tad.  While he smelled of booze and looked angry; Shayla turned a blind eye and welcomed him in.  
    Tad grabbed her up in his strong arms and she squealed.  Then, after setting Shayla down, he looked her square in the eye and told her he loved her.  The fire in her eyes was almost too bright and the couple ran upstairs to do what Tad had just done with his wife.  The only difference between love makings was that Tad would not beat Shayla when they were done.  She was the lucky one.

                    

                                       Chapter One

    Six months had passed since Jessica McCorger had been abused for the first time.  As she walked to her house she cringed at the thought of another night with Tad.  The days were never bad because he was at work, but after five, that was when the nightmare started.
    Jessica finally made it to the home she knew, she and Tad lived in a white house with green shutters and a cute little back yard.  Jessica missed sitting out on the swing and sipping tea.  She wanted her peaceful lifestyle back, but alas, it was not meant to be.  So she came inside and immediately set off on supper.  She baked some homemade bread, put on a pot of chili, and made some chocolate pudding for dessert.  This was Tad’s favorite meal and she hoped it would soften him up.  Besides cooking for Tad, Jessica was also cooking to try and help herself forget the worst of it all.  She bared her mental and physical scars to no one, but struggled with them daily. She suffered from depression and anxiety and although being treated for such, she was still so trapped inside and out that she could never seem to find any relief.  She also knew her husband was cheating and that didn’t help.  But who could blame him?  She was an ugly, stupid woman.  This is what she was meant to believe anyway.  And of course Tad would know better, he was her husband after all.
    
    The old truck pulled up in the driveway.  There he was a 5’11, muscular, dark haired, skinny monster.  At 34, Tad was in his prime and wanted nothing more than to be with his mistress, but he refused to give up his wife.  It’s not like he couldn’t let her go, but it was so much fun to play games with her.  Tad had never set out to be a monster, but Jessica brought it out in him, he just couldn’t explain how.
    The meal was pleasant. Conversation was sparse, but at least the couple could break bread together.  Afterwards, Jessica did the dishes while Tad watched TV.  Once Jessica was done, they found themselves going through their nightly routine.  Jessica would watch some TV with Tad and then go read.  Once bed time came Tad would get ready first and when Jessica came in the room they would get close.  Jessica winced with every touch, every kiss.  Tad would start slowly and then rough her up.  Adding nightly to the bruises on her wrists and when she begged him to stop, he would beat her and then storm off.
    Jessica knew she could leave, but was too afraid to.  She wore her makeup heavily so no one would see the bruises and she wore long sleeved shirts to cover the other marks.  Tad had threatened her that if she left he would kill her.  There were so many times when she had thought of killing herself, but she wasn’t brave enough to do so.  Besides, what good would it do?  She had decided that killing herself was not going to make the situation any better and that Tad would just find someone else to control.
    On this night, Jessica started something to try and help her deal with her situation.  She got out an old notebook and started journaling.  Through the tears she wrote about her fears, the pain, and the fact that deep down she still loved Tad.  She would eventually cry herself to sleep; her notebook, however, was still out in the open.

    “Wake up!”  Tad yelled.  He shook Jessica violently.
    A sleepy Jessica opened her eyes.  There Tad stood holding the old notebook.
    “What’s the idea? Are You going to turn me in? Are You going to therapy?  I told you what would happen if you left me.  So, what is it?  I know it would be too easy for you to show this hogwash to someone, and I certainly cannot trust you.”
    “I need something that is mine.  I need a way to vent, a way to breathe, hell, anything to try and escape this nightmare.  There is no reason why I can’t journal a little.”
    “I’ll give you a fucking nightmare!”  Tad beat Jessica with the notebook and then found an old lighter and a trash can and set the book on fire.  “Now, there will be no more cries for help, no more journaling, and no more of this “boo hoo” stuff.  Understand me?”
    Jessica winced and cried harder.
    “Bitch, do you understand me?  When I ask you a question I expect an immediate response.”
    “Yes!  Yes!  I understand you.  Why don’t you just let me go?  Go to your whore, at least she makes you happy.”
    Tad backhanded Jessica and stormed out of the room.  Jessica cried even harder knowing that nothing was safe for her.  She needed to find an outlet.  She needed something she could do that Tad would never know about, and she knew just who to talk to.
    The next day Jessica called her old classmate Betty and asked for her help.
    “So, he was really angry with her and she was furious with him, but they decided to settle in the end because they love one another after all.  Isn’t it crazy how love works, but you know how marriage can be, right?”
    “Yes, I know all about confusion and upset in a marriage.  Betty, I called because I need some help.  I’m trying to find a hang out joint that is open during the day.  I’m going to be doing some writing and I just need some place that is chilled out to write and to relax.”
    “You remember Michael Lemski from school?  He has a retro club in town on the west end that’s open from ten till midnight.   I’ve been there a few times and the place is pretty rad.”
    “Thanks Betty, I’ll have to check it out, oh and what’s the name?”
“Lemski Incorporated, sounds more like a factory, I know, but it’s a nice place.  And some of the guys there are easy on the eyes.  I know you are married, but I’m not, so it makes it a lot more fun for me.”
    “You sound like a teenager all over again.  I’m just in need of some me time is all nothing more.  I’ll check it out tomorrow.  Thanks again, Betty.”
    “No problem, Chickie.”