Even after applying an ice pack, the marks on Vera’s face were still impossible to miss.


    “Let it go, Vera. Your mom’s held on this long,” Ca murmured, gently touching Vera’s cheek, her eyes rimmed with red.


    Vera shook her head. “I’m going to keep looking for awyer. We’ll leave tonight. I’m worried he’ll show up and interfere with your recovery.”


    Watching Vera hurriedly pack their things, Ca found herself unable to voice any words offort. Her daughter was fighting so hard for her–how could she, as a mother, keep dragging her child down?


    “Did you take out that card?”


    “I did.” While packing, she’d gone back to her room and grabbed the debit card and checkbook Ca had hidden away.


    “That’s good. There’s not much in there, but a few thousand dors should help us get by for a while. So what if I can’t walk? I’ll work from home, maybe knit things to sell, or set up a table at the market. There are plenty of ways to make a living. Things will get better for us, you’ll see.”


    Vera paused, then turned to Ca with a smile. “Yeah, things will get better. <i>Once </i>we settle in at my ce, I’ll show you around. On weekends, we’ll go shopping or just take a walk. It’ll get better,” she repeated, as if she needed the words to steady her own pounding heart.


    Once they’d finished packing, Vera went to settle the discharge paperwork. But when she returned, she found amotion outside the hospital room–voices shouting, people crowding around.


    Vera’s face paled. She rushed forward, pushing through the crowd. Sure enough, it was Hamlin,


    “Divorce? Dream on!” Hamlin spat. “You two think you can just dump me and walk away? Not a chance! If you dare run, I swear I’lle after you with a knife. I’ll kill you both, then I’ll kill myself. You’ll never get rid of


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    me!”


    A small knife glinted in Hamlin’s hand, catching the fluorescent light.


    “Hamlin, what have I ever done to you? Are you out of your mind?” Ca’s eyes were wide with terror; the man before her was more frightening than any nightmare.


    “Go ahead, then! Let’s see whoes out alive!” Vera shoved Hamlin aside and stood protectively in front of Ca.


    “Vera, don’t!” Ca pleaded, terrified that Vera’s defiance would push Hamlin over the edge.


    “I’m telling you, you can leave, but your mother stays! If you try to sneak her out, I swear I’ll kill you both!” Hamlin’s threats sent a fresh wave of panic through Ca. Years of insults and beatings had left deep scars–her hands were slick with sweat, trembling uncontrobly as she


    stared at the knife.


    Fortunately, the chaos didn’tst long. Someone had called the nurses, and soon security arrived to drag Hamlin away.


    “You’ll never escape me, Ca! Try to divorce me and I’ll take you down with me!” Hamlin kept screaming as they forced him out. Vera mped her hands <i>over </i>Ca’s ears, rubbing her back, trying to soothe her.


    “Mom, we’re leaving right now. The city’s huge–he won’t find us. Don’t be afraid.”


    “Vera, I can’t go. I can’t…<i>” </i>Ca’s whole body shook as tears streamed down her face. The terror overwhelmed her, snapping whatever resolve she’d managed to hold onto.


    “It’s okay, Mom, I promise. You have to trust me,” Vera pleaded, her own eyes brimming with tears. She didn’t know what more she could say to calm her mother’s shattered nerves.


    “I can’t. I can’t leave…” Ca sobbed, shaking her head and clutching her ears, retreating into her own world.


    Vera could only hold her, wishing she could somehow shield her mother


    10:04


    from all the pain.