town. She had used the last of her secret cash to pay for the room. Her face was a mess of bruises, her li

idden away for my escape-to take her to a small, back-alley clinic. It was al

t do much for her here," he said, his voice low. "Her nose is broken in several places. Her jaw i

e next few days. The swelling went down to reveal a face that was permanently twisted. One side of her mouth drooped, giving her a co

thing-for washing, for dressing, for helping her use the bathroom. The doctor at the clinic repeated

e anti-inflammatory pills from the pharmacy. I brought them

nge sense of resignation washed over me. This was it. This was our new reality. There was no esc

red to her, to her brokenness, to the mess she had made. The future I had dreamed of, the freedom I had counted dow