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The Solution
by Willadene
Mandy huddled in a ball on her bed, nursing her injuries. Numb from the
recent violence, she slowly felt for her baby's movements. The loud slam of
the car's door and the sound of the motor roaring to life insured her
of safety, at least for a while. She listened for the sound to fade away as
the distance grew between them. Slowly, she allowed herself to relax,
letting the tension drain from her body. Carefully she crept from her
sanctuary in the bed, and went through the doorway into the adjoining
bathroom. She stood before the sink as the pain faded and gazed into the
mirror. No bruises would show because he was too careful to have his friends
see his dirty work.
It hadn't always been this way. She had loved him at one time. Now there
was nothing but a big emptiness swallowing her soul.
Mandy turned to the towel rack and slid a washcloth from it. Wetting it she
carefully washed her face. Searching the rest of her body, she checked for
more signs of her husband's anger. Turning, she saw a big bruise under her
right shoulder blade. The bruises were more often on her back now as she
instinctively huddled down to protect her stomach and her baby.
Her Baby. All her life Mandy had wanted a baby to hold, cuddle and love.
Would he have black hair as she had or the light brown of his father? Or
perhaps it was a girl with curls and dimpled cheeks, and eyes of shining
blue. Rubbing her hand across her stomach, she felt the little foot kick her
ribs. She smiled. This is what made life worth living. Her baby was what she
was living for now. Mandy stood in thought for a moment. How would she
protect him after he was born?
Perhaps leaving was the answer, but having tried that before, she dismissed
the idea. He had brought her roses and wooed her into coming back by saying
he would change and he loved her. It wasn't long before he started in again
with the beatings, letting her know what would happen if she ever left him
again. Her baby needed her and she could not chance his finding her and
killing them both.
Mandy changed into clean clothes and went into the kitchen. She surveyed the
mess. Broken dishes and food were spread all over. Why had she put pepper in
the stew? She had only tried to make it more interesting; besides she liked
it that way. He hadn't.
She pulled out her broom and swept up the glass and pottery, dumping it in
the trashcan. Her back ached from the effort and the beating. Maybe she
could find something safe to take to relieve the pain. Returning to the
bathroom she opened the medicine cabinet. It was neat and orderly. Her
bottles were on the bottom two shelves; his were on the top two. Divided and
as isolated as the marriage itself. He had his own bottles of deodorant and
pills, all arranged in the order he preferred to take them. The bottom two
shelves were not as organized. That was where her pills and things were.
There sat a prescription bottle with her prenatal vitamins. She sighed with
exasperation and took one. She was late taking it today, but better an hour
late than not at all. If he had not gotten so mad and hurt her, it would have
been taken on time. Mandy felt the baby move in her womb and slid her hands
down to feel the movement against her hands. 'I will protect you my love',
thought Mandy, 'I will find a way.'
After a moment, Mandy returned to her surveying of the shelves before her.
There were her buffered aspirins, but they were not safe for the baby. There
wasn't anything for her to take for pain on her shelves. There sat her
husband's regular aspirins, but she couldn't take his either as the Doctor
said it wasn't safe for the baby. Her husband could not take hers because he
was allergic to the buffers. He had almost died as a child when he had taken
one. Every day her husband said he had a headache and downed at least two
regular aspirin before bed. He was the pain, she thought. If only there was
a way to make him go away. He needed her to read for him, that's why he
could not chance loosing her. Who would pay his bills or write down the
names on his VCR tapes? Why should he pay for something he could take for
free? She stared at the bottle. An idea started to form.
He was allergic to her aspirin.
He could not read.
He would come home and automatically reach for his bottle of aspirin in the
same spot it had sat for years.
Mandy took an aspirin out of his bottle then took one out of hers, looking
at them. They had different markings, but how close would he be looking at
them? Especially since he generally took his glasses off to shower, then
took the aspirin. Would he see the difference? Could freedom be that easy?
Would she and the baby get away safe? A chill went through her. Her baby
must be safe.
She was desperate. Grabbing a washcloth from the towel rack Mandy used it to
pick up and place her pills where his bottle had been then placed his where
hers had been and closed the cabinet. Now all she had to do was wait.
Her baby needed her and she could not chance his killing them both."
Mandy rolled over in bed unable to sleep. She reached over and picked up
the clock, checking the time and carefully replacing it to be visible from
the other side of the bed. Two thirty. He should be here soon because the
bar closed at two.
It was harder lately to get comfortable. She felt a little foot kicking
her ribs. The baby sure was active, thought Mandy. "I love you baby,"
Mandy said aloud. The baby would love me without pain. She would be able to
relax and rock it to sleep and hum it tunes, just like her mother did for
her. 'Just a while longer now, baby, and I will have you in my arms.' She
thought. Again she glanced at the clock, tensing. Anytime now he would be
here. There wouldn't be anymore relaxing until he was snoring or dead.
Despair filled her. Why couldn't she find another solution? What if she was
found out? They would take her baby away if she went to jail.
Mandy rolled over again, facing the door. She heard a car coming along the
road. Not her husband's car, his was a lot louder. The car turned into her
driveway. Perhaps someone had to carry him home. She threw back the covers
and got up, grabbing her robe and putting it on. She reached the front door
as she heard a knock. She left the door on its chain and opened it a crack.
A police officer was standing there.
"Mrs. Calder", he asked.
"Yes?" Mandy replied.
"I am Officer Ray Smith of the Pleasant Valley police department. I am
afraid I have some bad news for you. May I come in?"
Mandy opened the door.
Mandy stood over her husband's grave. She couldn't weep. She hadn't wept
even when Officer Smith had broke the news to her of her husband's death in a
bar fight. She had felt so relieved she had broken out laughing. He had looked
at her as if she was mad, but she hadn't cared. It was such a relief not to
worry any more about his rage or the next beating. When the officer had left
that night, she had run to the bathroom, grabbed both pill bottles, and
poured them into the toilet then pulled the handle. What a relief she had
felt as she watched the swirling water wash them away!
Mandy smiled, turned and left the grave, heading for her car. She was
free now and her baby was safe. They had nothing to fear now. Life was so
sweet.
It seemed just then to Mandy that the baby jumped for joy in her womb.
©2002 Willadene Hurliman
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