But I love Him
Corinthians (13:4-7) Love is patient and kind; it is not
jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish irritable;
love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up;
and its faith, hope and patience will never fail.
***
“There are lacerations along her arms, legs and
spine…
***
“But I love him,” The women persisted, clinging to
the police officer’s blue sleeve with all the strength her weary body could
muster. She was shaken off like no weight at all, and it wasn’t hard to see
why. There was no meat on her pale body and scars that ran up arms uncovered by
a pretty little yellow sundress hanging limply frame. A purple/green swelling
persisted around her right eye and a similarly coloured
blemish across the opposite cheek.
“I’m sorry Miss,” The door of the black and white
cruiser slammed in her face.
“You can’t take him away from me! I love him, I love
him!” Small fists beat on the metal exo-skeleton of
the car’s frame, which was more effort, the officer thought, than she had ever
exerted to prevent the situation. “But I love him!” she screamed after the
retreating car.
***
“…Discolouration around the
cheek bones from bruising…
***
“But I love him.” The woman persisted, shakily.
“Mrs. Franich, the issue
here is not whether or not you love this man, but if he hurt you.” The judge
shook his head and the peroxide lightened woman and sighed inwardly. He had
seen many of these women and these trials before. It was always the same, that
no matter the beating- the woman would always claim and proclaim her love in
front of the court before admit that it might be Him, not Her
who was wrong.
“But I love him, and he would never mean to hurt me.”
Uncertain eyes were diverted from the man in question. “He would never hurt me,
no, and if he did- it was because in some way I wronged him.”
***
“…The jaw is broken in two places on the right side,
like it was crushed a constantly increasing pressure and not just one heavy
strike…
***
“It’s a fractured arm, just keep it out of use for a
few weeks and it will be as good as new in no time at all.” The doctor patted
the blue sling with a small smile. “So how did you say you got this again?”
“O…I fell down the stairs.” The woman tried a shaky
smile of her own.
“The stairs, this will be the second time in three
weeks. You should see about putting some carpeting on those stairs Mrs. Franich.”
“Yes,” a hesistation. “My
husband will do something about it as soon as he…as soon as he comes…as soon as
he can. Yes.” Another weak smile.
***
“…Tearing on the corresponding side of the throat, as
if it someone had squeezed it into this condition…
***
“Mrs. Franich, it as been a
long time since we have seen you at work! How is that arm healing?”
The little blond averted her eyes and spoke to the
ground. “Quite well, thank you.”
“Well, grab a text book and we’ll head over to the
Drama department. Mrs. Heaslip is most anxious to get
your class of hellions of her back. Apparently we’re not all cut out for
teaching…Miss Franich?”
A pause passed between to two women. “I’m here to
hand in my resignation I’m afraid.”
“Reg?”
A pause. “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to leave you.”
***
“…The skin is blue, from suffocation…
***
“Good for nothing whore!” Slurred words and an
unsteady hand threw her against the wall. “Arl…All I
ask for is a hah, hot mearl
when I get home! A hahrt meal…”
“Yes. Yes, but it’s
“SHADDUP!” The limp body was
thrown against the wall in a violent shove. “I wont me some food you stupid
bitch, an’ I’ll have it nowl!”
“Yes, yes.” She nodded at the ground uncertainly.
“Yes.”
“Shaddup…”
***
“…There are signs of struggle and a blow to the head,
but it was the suffocation that killed her…
***
“Mel…” An uncertain figure peaked out the peephole of
her apartment at whatever person would be knocking at her door so late at
night. “Oh my God, Melanie- what happened?”
“I think I need a place to stay for a while,” Was her
hushed, little whisper.
“Reg-“
“I love him
***
“Is that all?” The detective inquired of the coroner.
He nodded. “A pretty typical case here; just another
woman who got in over head- Though I will admit, this one was a little more
grotesque than what we usually come across…”
“Yes, we found this body at her sister’s place. The
other women escaped to call us, but by the time we got there…”
“…Yes I understand…I bet she said she loved him…”