National Domestic violence hot line; 1-800-798-7233

"She pulled the phlegm from her diaphragm with such enthusiasm it reopened the tear on her lip. She stared at him through swollen eyes. Cocked, lunged , heaved it across his motionless face.

' Sadistic'.' No mercy'. The papers would print the story on the front page the following day. 'out of the blue' they would say. She wondered if the police officers would read it, if they would talk among themselves...