Prologue
Madison began to pick up the broken picture frame that had scattered onto the floor, earlier that evening. She began to cry again when she looked at the picture that was in the frame, they looked so happy together. What had happened to that? She stopped cleaning up the mess and just sat there crying. What had happened to her perfect life? She had become a statistic, she had become the one thing she always said she would never become… the victim.
Finally, she cleaned up the mess. Another picture frame in the trash, another memory thrown to the floor like it was nothing. She sat down on the couch in the living room and stared at the tiny hole that his fist made a few nights ago. She shook her head trying to rid herself of the tears that threatened to fall. She slowly moved her hand over her shoulder rubbing it softly and then she tried to move it, she cried out in pain and the only thing that was going through her head was that she was glad it wasn’t her face this time.
Disgusted with herself once again she slowly retreated upstairs to the bedroom. He was gone for a few hours at least; if she was asleep when he got home then all was well. She couldn’t believe she was now to the point of avoiding him. She shouldn’t have to do that, but she was and she didn’t know why. She didn’t know anything anymore. Why she stayed? Why she kept it a secret? She was scared, she was afraid of him and what he might do if she told someone. And as much as she hated to admit it, she loved him and she didn’t think she could do it, she was weak.
Madison changed into her pajamas and carefully got into bed trying not to move her shoulder to much in the process. Finally, settled as about as comfortable as she was going to get she closed her eyes sighing and forced sleep upon herself. Hoping that when he came home he would leave her alone. Also, hopeful for tomorrow, it was a new day, maybe it would be different. She snorted as she thought of all the times she thought that tomorrow as going to be different because it was a new day. And she never thought she’d be so completely wrong in the end.