He was like her father, with his mood swings. One day he treated her like an angel.. The next day he blamed her for everything. Having no idea why she did it, she married this man. She lived for the days when he treated her like an angel and lived in fear of the days when his mood was somber... Finally the beatings began. Each time it would be the same. For a few days things would be calm. Then he would grow quiet... She would try extra hard to be a good wife, but sooner or later she would make a mistake....... Afterwards he would be very sorry and say how much he loved her.. He would shower her with love and affection, all the time saying if only she would try a little harder... And of course the make-up. It seemed each year she had to wear more make-up. It finally got so bad that she had to run for her life. And so she started over... Afraid of men, yet afraid to be alone. Misty could never trust a man after what she had been through....

Finally, 25 years after the last time she had spoken to Charlie she saw him again. She had gone into the flower shop, forgetting that one of her friends had mentioned Charlie was the new owner. She had already picked up the flowers and started for the register when she realized her mistake... And there stood Charlie... looking at her.. with a tear in his eye... Now she was totally confused... there were no bullies... why was he crying now...? And she started to get angry again. She looked at him, and said, "I don't understand why you cried then... and why you have a tear in your eye now. It just doesn't make any sense". And Charlie look at her, a smile slowly coming onto his face, as he said "The tear wasn't for me, the tear was for you...." Misty was shaken... She began stammering.... "For me?... but.. but....

Charlie took her hand into his and the quiet boy who was now a man.. looked into her eyes and said, "I love you... I have always loved you" Misty began to cry... for the first time since she was three years old tears began to form in her eyes... And in a voice that was barely a whisper... She asked, "But why were you crying, was it because of the bullies...? And Charlie said, "I wasn't crying for my pain, I was crying for yours...." Misty asked... How he had known. Charlie's response was simple, "My mother, she wore a lot of make-up too..." And suddenly, Misty understood everything. Charlie's bruises weren't from the bullies, they were a gift from his father. And Charlie had not been crying for himself. When he saw her wearing heavy make-up, he had known what was happening to her.. Finally, after all these years, she knew that his tears had not been for himself... they really had been for her... Charlie's final words on that afternoon, so many years before finally came to her... Charlie's last words had been, "You Deserve Better......" Misty fell into Charlie's arms... She cried for what seemed like days... but was probably only hours.. She let out all the pain and anger that was inside her... Afterwards, Misty thought about all that had happened and looked into Charlie's eyes... She suddenly found herself overwhelmed with love for this man who cared so much for her and said, "Charlie... You were right about something". He gave her a questioning look. Misty looked Charlie in the eyes... and said, You are right Charlie... I do deserve something better..." Misty and Charlie were married the next day...