The Bruises She Left Behind
"God, she left me," Ryan weeps on his knees. “Please bring her back.” Feeling the throbbing in his limbs, he stands and staggers down the hallway. The bruises she left behind replace the blissful memories on the walls of their home. Your tears won’t work this time, says a message on a photo of her bruises. I’m not coming back, reads another. After seeing the impact of his rage, he mourns as his throat burns. "I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry," his voice echoes in the darkness. Ryan thinks he feels a sharp knife piercing his chest, and to his knees, he collapses again. "Please forgive me," he pleads to God. "Halle is never coming back is she?" Ryan cradles in sorrow like an infant, releasing his pain until his strength gives. "Jesus," he says softly. "What have I done?"
To seek help for domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 (SAFE).
About Bree
Bree Jackson is an author with more than two decades of experience in Christian publishing. Holding a Master's degree in English and Creative Writing, she is dedicated to producing media that elevates the human soul and spirit. To explore more, visit www.breejackson.org.
