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Domestic Violence
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Domestic Violence |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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Domestic Violence It’s a cold January night; winter has set deep within my heart. Two impressively dressed police officers enter through the back door; the one reserved for friends. They pull me aside to question me and in their thoroughness, with flashlights, check my body for injuries. I can’t help but wonder at what point did my body go from being my own to a piece of evidence? The bruises, still red, overlap others much darker and not so recent. Each is measured and recorded. I watch as their pens flash information onto blank sheets of paper, filling one and then another with facts I don’t really wish to disclose. Even in this condition, my mind does not fail to recognize the similarity between that and my writing. One of the officers inquires if I want or need to see a doctor. I smile, wincing from the pain, and reply, “No, I’m fine.” While inside, I am dying. The younger of the two, Roy, asks “Will you press charges this time?” I think to myself, “I used to baby sit him. I grew up with his parents. Why does he have to see me like this?” Self-consciously I brush a strand of bloodstained hair away from my battered face. “ ‘Mamm?” His partner, a middle-aged man with a kind face, looks at me questioningly. “Will you be filing charges?” “No, everything is fine,” I respond. “I’m sorry the neighbors had to bother you at all." They both look at me and shake their heads as if they expected me to say nothing different. It hurts my pride to see the sympathy in their eyes. I didn’t ask for that, nor did I ask for this! “ ‘Mamm, if there’s nothing else we can do for you, I guess we’ll be going now.” I smile, courteously thank them for all their help and walk them to the door. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” they question me once more. I simply nod my head up and down and watch as they turn to go. “PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME,” my mind shouts...but the words fail to escape my swollen lips as they drive away. [This message has been edited by hoot_owl_rn (04-04-2003 07:05 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
Hi Ruth  I can’t help but wonder at what point did my body go from being my own to a piece of evidence? ~~this hit me hard..haven't seen things this way before...sometimes you don't know how lucky you are until you realise and this is one of the instances in which I realise and am glad that i didn't have such personal understanding Even in this condition, my mind does not fail to recognize the similarity between that and my writing. ~~this kinda threw me off...er, what writing? if "that" means "facts I don't really wish to disclose", i think that's a clever way of drawing connections between things...but not too sure whether my interpretation is correct “PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME,” my mind shouts...but the words fail to escape my swollen lips as they drive away. ~~simple words here but what an ache they left in this reader...how one can't help himself at times and long for others to come and rescue, without being able to voice out his desire..this sucks |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Kalie...this story is based in part on fact...although I never had neighbors interested enough to phone the cops when they heard the shouts. The line you questioned, you were actually right on with. When I write I often reveal facts about myself that I do not wish to reveal, I can't hide the true me in my words...and had a cop come to the house and recorded information about my abuse, it would have revealed things to others that I was too proud/stubborn to reveal at the time. Perhaps it remains a bit confusing to all but me, sorry about that; but I'm so interchanged with the woman in the story that it's sometimes hard to seperate us. I remember crying out for help so many times in my mind, but never once voicing a request for help outloud. Even my own family did not know of the abuse I suffered for 17 years in my marriage until after I left him. Thanks for reading and thank you so much for your comments ~ Ruth |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
This is a very sad piece written masterfully. I hope you are okay and that this is just a fictional persona. In any case, I'll be adding this to my library. It's very powerful. 2+2=5 for sufficiently large values of 2 |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
 Ruth.... this is well written. |
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SPIRIT Senior Member
since 2002-12-29
Posts 1745California Desert |
What a powerful write. Unlike you I did not live in an abusive relationship. Wonderful that you found the strength to move away to a better place. My take on the same subject below. Such an enormous problem this domestic abuse - worldwide. THE BATTERED This is such a Painful partnership, Filled with physical And verbal obscenities. I married you in love, I stay with you in fear. I am not only terrorized By your abuses. I have become Increasingly aware That I am No longer a person, Of any worth. I am less Than a nobody, Having been battered By words and fists, Into a mountainous Pulp of nothing. I now fear Living without you As much as I fear Living with you. When does such Torment end? When I am dead? Perhaps! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I admire you Ruth, for writing about it. So many times this is shoved under the rug. I was not abused but have had some contact with abused women (my aunt and a neighbor that I've lost contact with). It's hard for a woman, especially if she has kids, to make a decision to leave. Under normal circumstances when a couple divorces the woman has a lowered standard of living. It's even harder when a woman has to leave quickly with just a few things. Thank you for posting this... |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you all for your responses. I thank God every day for finally giving me the strength and courage to face my fears and leave. Spirit...this is perhaps one of the most moving piece of poetry I have ever read about domestic violence. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. It moved me deeply and I can relate to every gut wrenching word within it. Your poem most definately needs to be shared with others, perhaps they could gain some strength from the knowledge that they are not alone and what they are feeling is normal. |
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Skyfire
since 2000-12-27
Posts 3381Riding |
WOW... I have shivers |
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cupcake Member
since 2003-01-05
Posts 116 |
Great write on a sad subject. Makes me thankful for a more peaceful life. I'm a reader - not a writer. |
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morefiah Member
since 2003-03-26
Posts 150Spanish Town, Jamaica |
Hi friend. I read your words and I was deeply touched. I have always felt a sense of shame at the thought of a man beating on a woman. I guess I can understand why some women are suspicious and afraid of all men. Domestic abuse is to me one of the worst imaginable human crimes, right up there next to rape, not only because of the physical scars, but because of the long term emotional and mental scars. I sincerely hope that you have fully recovered from your 17 year ordeal. You have inspired me to post the second poem I ever wrote. Somehow I have never shared it with anyone. I share it now out of respect and in tribute to you and every woman who has suffered from domestic abuse. Thank you. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you all for reading this, what may be tramatic piece to read, and for all your supportive comments. I am living proof that life goes on outside those walls, both the physical and emotional walls that people in an abusive relationship tend to try to hide behind to feel some small bit of safety. If anyone who reads this finds themselves in this situation, please feel free to e-mail me...you can never have too much support when going through something like this. Once more, thank you |
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Flower Member
since 2003-03-15
Posts 240California |
This is a very powerful piece of prose. Very frightening how we can be so cruel to each other. Love reading all these great writes. |
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