c.2001 M.Bennett Hooper He looked at her swollen lip and the dark bruise on her face and tenderly questioned its' cause. He was just playin she replied as she turned away hiding within herself and her body screamed from yesterday's pain. He paused remembering her past visits to his office which ended always with the mantra he was just playin but the hospital bed was hard and her broken arm swollen to twice its' size before this second setting. She looked somewhat happy now calm quiet and untroubled. Her favorite dress seemed to float around her tiny shoulders. Makeup hid her bruised neck and the music she could no longer hear played softly in ears closed to time. Our mother cried softly as I cradled her gently in my arms. She asked me about the coffin sash from tear filled eyes. I replied maybe it will help someone else some other young woman. The large pink ribbon was emblazoned with gold sparkling letters which proclaimed one last time. He was just playin. My sister lay dead because she thought love was a game filled with pain and suffering and for her the game was finished. Most players don't know the meaning of love and I ain't a player hater when the players are children who really understand joy. But man child don't make me hurt you. I ain't just playin.

Domestic violence is the true American horror story.