As for Mark, he’d treated me like dirt because
he knew I’d never leave.
“Beer? Right. A beer gives a baby brain
damage? You’re not just a jerk, Mark, you’re an idiot!”
I didn’t care about his stricken expression. I
turned and left.
Back in my room, the image of my little girl
haunted me.
I fell into a fitful sleep.
When I woke up, it was almost dark.
Г
Mark was sponging my hands with a warm
washcloth.
I stared.
He used to be such a clean freak. Sharing a fry
with me was grounds for a full–on lecture about
germs.
Then Tiffany came back and he was fine eating
her leftovers.
I went ballistic then, too.
What did he say?
“Look at yourself. You’re a hag. Who wouldn’t
be disgusted? Tiffany’s young and beautiful.
You can’t compete.”
He scrutinized every receipt and complained
about how much the doctor cost.
“You don’t work. Stop wasting money.”
But Tiffany could buy a $5,000 handbag without
him batting an eye.
I’d spent years living for the love of a man who
treated me like a burden.
He would hurt me then pretend he was perfect.
Until I wanted to leave.
Then I got pregnant.
We weren’t young.
The baby would fix everything.
Now I knew the kind of man he really was.
His hand wavered over my body.
Letored him down diegusted “Don’t you think
<
10:22
I stared him down, disgusted. “Don’t you think this is a little gross? You haven’t been to a single doctor’s appointment in seven months, you stopped caring about me years ago, you
did this! Don’t put on an act.”
His face fell and he said “Sarah, I would never hurt you! I thought everything was good in the world and maybe things will get better if you
gave me another chance.”
“I’m so sorry for what happened, I’ll never stop
loving you.”
When I said nothing, he ran over and started
begging.
“I’m so sorry! I never meant for it to happen!”
“I got you flowers, just give me another
chance!”
I got the flowers, and slapped him across the
<
10:22
face.
100
“Stop it! You’re not making this better, just get out of my face!”
He’s been the first person I ever loved. He’s the only person I’ve loved.
I’m too tired to hate someone that loves me.
I took the vase, and smashed him over the head
with it.
I can’t stand this anymore.
He fell back and started bleeding.
I couldn’t stand the sight of him. I screamed,
“Get out!”
“You don’t deserve to say the baby’s name.”
I’m never going to forgive him.
<
He can go to hell.
My body started shaking, I felt like I was giving
birth again.
Nurses rushed in.
They gave him a towel to stop the bleeding.
They gave me a oxygen mask.
And handed him a report.
Since Mark refused to accept the doctor’s
diagnosis, they got a second opinion and came
to the same result.
Mark started shaking.
Then I remembered something.
We drank beer that night, so why did I end up
drinking liquor?
<
10:23
100
It was just a small detail, and I’m never going to get my baby back.
Three days later, I checked out of the hospital.
I’m never going to see that place again.
Since Mark saw the report, I didn’t hear from him.
I was cleaning my house, and watching the
news, and I heard that the New Field Bar got shut down.
That night, Mark came to my house.
He looked horrible.
