Shattered Lives

SamanthaNo! No! Please don’t hurt me are the words I hear floating through the air. I didn’t realize that those words had fallen from my lips. I stare into a pair of steel blue eyes that hold so much hate. I wonder why this is happening to me, but there’s no time to answer that question; there’s only time to ask how I will survive. A slap comes across my face. The impact causes my head to whip to the side. Please god help me is all I can think to myself. I’m trapped. He has me against the wall by my throat. With each slap, his grip becomes tighter and tighter. Soon, there will be no room for air to flow through. “Please stop hurting me.” That's all I can say, but it comes out as a whimper. My plea only makes him smile. He likes the fact that I’m at his mercy. I try to hold back the tears. I want to be strong, but the tears begin to stream down my face. Once again, his hands connect with my face, but this time it’s his fist that lands in my right eye.

Samantha“Please stop! Don’t hurt me! I’m sorry!” My eyes fly open. I take a quick scan of my surroundings only to find that I’m in my bedroom. It’s a little unnerving to wake in my bed when I last remember being in the living room. When I sit up, I find that my clothes are clinging to me. The realization hits me that sweat is pouring from my body. My pulse is racing. The light from my bathroom catches my attention. I keep it on for times like this when I wake from a nightmare, not sure where I am. After calming myself down and getting my breathing under control, I climb out of bed. There’s still a part of me that is panicking. My steps are tentative as I leave my room. I peek my head around every corner before entering the next room to make sure that no one is there. Once I see the coast is clear, I make sure the door is secure by pulling on the knob to check the lock.Walking back to my bedroom, I breathe easier knowing that everything is the same as I left it. I sit on my bed near

SamanthaAs I was settling in at my desk, I noticed a tall drink of water (as my mother would say) walk in and stop at Stella’s desk. The man looked to be about 6’1’ or maybe 6’2’ with straight short blonde hair and hazel eyes. He has a tailored suit that shows his lean physique. I watch the interaction between him and Stella. “Hello, Mr. Evans. How are you doing today?” Stella asks.The guy learns over Stella’s desk. “Stella, you and I both know that you have known me since I was small so I don’t know why you feel the need to call me by my last name. Please call me Josh for the last time.”“Okay Josh. You can go in, nobodies in there.”Josh walks around Stella’s desk while looking at me. Then stops at my desk. “Well who do we have here?”For some reason, I don’t seem to be able to speak.“You have a name sweetheart?”“Samantha Clarkson.” I say pulling myself together.Josh extends his hand for a handshake. “I am Josh. One of Charles’s oldest friends. Do you mind if I call

SamanthaI arrive at work in record time and walk through the office as I normally do, but there was something different this time. As I pass Stella’s desk, I notice she isn’t there. Thinking that she might be in with Charles, I leaned against his door to see if I could hear anything. Yes, I know it’s wrong to eavesdrop, but I don’t care. I didn’t have to press my ear very hard. There was loud laughter that came from the other side. I knock on the door.“Come in,” he saysI open the door, expecting to find Stella there, but instead I find a young, slender woman dressed to kill in designer clothes sitting on the couch with Charles on the other end. Her hand was gently grazing Charles’ arm. I felt a ping of jealousy. I have no right to be jealous, but that doesn’t stop the monster from roaring its ugly head. There must have been a look on my face, one that made Charles realize that I was watching their hands, because Charles removed his hand from hers as if her touch burned him. He st