Dead, With Signs of Life
The devastating impact of domestic abuse
She had a laugh that would pierce the coldest soul, a unique beauty. She was a woman he believed he could ever attract. People liked her.
She never quite understood why.
She talked a lot, and just a little too loudly. She never met a stranger.
She did well at school, but hated it due to intense bullying.
She saw the best in everyone, even if she had to strain her eyes to see.
He could turn his hands to anything, but reading and writing alluded him. He struggled to find the right thing to say. He left school as soon as he could, desperate to leave inadequacy behind him.
He was the youngest of his siblings, and the long-awaited son. His older sisters carried the load, while he was treated like a prince. He watched his mother roughshod it over his dad, and he waited on her hand and foot.
He promised himself that would not be his story.
She fit right in with all his friends but he struggled with how personable and outgoing she was. Within months he was helping her with how she spoke, laughed and dressed. He reminded her that ladies order salads and wine, not steak and beer, that they should talk quietly, and never about themselves.
He took to sitting her down when they got home, and explaining where she went wrong. She knew she had many faults, the bullies at school had said as much. It pained her to think that she had made him feel bad, that her knowledge and interests had made him feel inferior. She will try harder.
She will learn.
He was terrified that she would leave, and he’d never find another. He never expected to meet someone like her, someone who was articulate and smart. He had to be careful not to lose her. But he knew she was insecure, always assuming people didn’t like her.
She was wrong, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.
He was careful to always deliver his feedback in a gentle and careful way. After all he was only trying to help her become a better person.
Before long she had given up her desire to travel, and instead agreed to get married and…