I'm going to tell my councilor about this...this fight. I think. I really want to tell her this time.

She wants me to leave, but, I think...well, maybe.

I could leave the next time he goes away for the week. Take my stuff out of the apartment. Go live with Leila in Trenton for a while.

And then? Start over? Find a new job and a new man, I guess. One step at a time. Or I could go back to school, get a dog, do the coffee shop, even. But I haven't saved enough money.

But he needs me. What would he do?

I can't. I just can't.

Can't? Or won't?

Maybe.

Wait, what was that?