I had heard about a woman who conducted workshops for abused women. I also happened to have been reading about an abused woman. I decided to call the woman giving the workshop and make an appointment for the woman about whom I had been reading. I also knew that I was involved with a woman whom I had been abusing, and I thought about setting up an appointment for her also.

When I called the number, I was surprised when a man answered the phone and asked if he could help me. When I said I would like to set an appointment, he put me on hold. As I waited, I began having second thoughts and I doubted I really wanted to talk with anyone about this subject. I decided I would just wait until the woman who gave the workshops came on the phone, then I would hang up. I just wanted to see what her voice sounded like.

Finally the man returned to the phone and said, "Your appointment is set up between six and seven o'clock on Tuesday."

I knew Tuesday was the following day. I thought he was going to say something else, but I said, "Thank you," and hung up.

I hadn't wanted to give my name. I thought the appointment was probably for a class and the times were set that way for everybody. After I hung up, I wondered who I would send. Would I send the woman about whom I had been reading, or would I send the woman with whom I was involved? I thought to myself how my whole being rebelled against getting involved with this. I was unsure what I was going to do. Maybe I wouldn't send anybody.