ENTERED INTO THE
750 WORD PROJECT 2024
"Carol? Come in. Please, have a seat. I want you comfortable," smiled Dr. Canter, "I've listened to Dan, but I'd like to now hear your side."
Carol stared out the window into the cold November day saying nothing.
"You may not care to talk, but as your court appointed counselor, it's in your interest to..."
"My husband raped me. That's it. End of story."
"But you're here both for repeated instances of domestic violence. There's no documented rape by Dan in any of my paperwork."
"
Because
... The responding officer didn't believe me!" Carol pleaded, "Nor did Judge Thorton believe..."
"I'm here to solve problems, I don't care for hearsay allegations," Canter interrupted sternly, "I've suggested a couple's weekend trip to the mountains for reconciliation."
________
"Whadayathink, Carol? Nice cabin, huh?"
"I'm forced to be here," Carol sullenly responded.
"Just you and I up here alone," Dan purred, "How's about a kiss to start our reuniting?"
"Stop! Get off me!"
"I'm the husband! If I want sex then wife damn well will give!"
Carol pushed Dan off and left running through woods unknown.
"Fucker! You'll return and I'll be here in front of a warm fire waiting for long overdue sex!" Dan shouted.
________
Carol ran until tired and lost but knowing she could never go back to Dan. Ever!
A snapping of branches scared her.
"Who's there?! Dan??!!"
Another crackling of leaves underfoot and, despite exhaustion, adrenaline made her aching legs move from fear of being hunted prey.
Through low hanging vines and entangling spider webs she ran until reaching a clearing where a dilapidated home stood in which she hid.
An hour of silence passed and she felt safe to move about to find food, a blanket, or anything of comfort in the crumbling house. Carefully maneuvering around missing floorboards, a gleam of metal caught her eye.
"It's a bit rusted, but what a pretty arrowed heart pendant this is," Carol said, "I'll clean it and keep."
Carol turned quickly on hearing another ominous noise coming directly from behind.
"Who? Who are you?