Jesse feels like prey, as she lies motionless on the bed, trying not to awake her tormentor. Just the roughness of Carl’s voice causes her to flinch. The decision to leave, to go back home to her family, has been spoiled by her sister’s trivializing of her dilemma.
Kathy elides the fact that those volcanic devils who batter their mates don’t make their intentions to hurt known when couples meet. There were no overtones regarding his violent tendencies; instead, he seemed a sweet guy, one who could charm the white off of sugar. Jesse had been green in the affairs of the heart, so she didn’t know that sometimes what seems too good to be true really isn’t good at all.
So, she will have to find someone else to help her safely leave this relationship. It has to be a person who will believe her, not judge her, and who won’t banalize her fears and suffering. She knows fervently that the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in her. That knowledge that will liberate her, for this is not the kind of love God wants for her.
Fictional story, but all too real for too many women and men who are victims of domestic violence. Yes, I meant to add men. Written for Wordle #149 from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie for September 9, 2019. The words are in bold print: elide, green, spoil, decision, banalize, rough, flinch, overtones, back, motionless, sweet, prey. Also, for the September Writing Prompts from Putting My Feet in the Dirt: volcanic devils.
Help from Heaven 