A New Day

Part 1 - A Change Must Come

Chapter 1 - Theresa

"What are you doing here?" I asked through the back door hurrying to lock the deadbolt, fumbling from my hands shaking.

"Let me talk to you!" Devon ragged. His pounding on the door becoming more rapid and harder, shaking the pictures on the wall. "I want to see the kids!"

I slowly opened the wooden blinds to see him. His eyes were blood shot red, he was wearing worn gray sweat pants and a disheveled black hooded sweatshirt that was torn and dirty. It looked as if he hadn't slept or bathed in days. I sighed, I had that gut feeling that things were not going to end well, as usual.

"D," I said while turned to find my keys that were hanging by the back door. Then I looked through the small hallway to the front door. Panic was hitting me in waves.

"They aren't here." I partly lied. " I'm on my way out. I will call later and we'll set something up."

My heart was racing. I saw it in his eyes. Anger, resentment and pain. The blood drained from my face remembering the pain and emptiness. He hadn't come around in months since we had separated. He hadn't called to check on the kids.

Before I could speak again, Devon threw his hands up towards the sky and stepped backwards as the screen door slammed shut. I sighed and lowered my head, realizing that reason did sit in. Something in the pit of my stomach told me better. I could never tell what his actions would lead to. I thought of the kids. Michael was upstairs sleeping, I had kept him home because he was ill this morning. Roxanne was at school still.

"Shit!" I thought. "He will try and go get her." I grabbed my keys quickly and headed towards the front room, grabbed my purse off the table frantically while trying to dial my cell phone to call my neighbor to come watch Michael. Before I could say hello darkness quickly closed in around me.

I felt my shoulder hit the wall first making me cringe. The familiar scent of liquor seeping through his clothes brushed past my nose. That smell made my stomach turn, it always did. I quickly scrambled back to my feet looking around.

Damn it, he broke through the back door. Escape. Run. Front door now!

As I tuned to run, Devon grabbed my hair from behind at its roots making me wince. I couldn't move.

"Sit down." His voice boomed.

"Devon, don't do this. Please!" I begged. "I have to get the kids." I don't know why I ever tried to reason, it never worked.

My head hit the cold gray granite floor quickly and bounced upwards. Sharp pains vibrated through my neck.

"Shut up!"

I covered my head with my shaking hands. Devon backed up for a moment as I wiped tears away. My face was burning. Breathing frantically my world became dark once again.

"Stop!" I was scared to open my eyes, I couldn't hear my own voice. My ears were ringing.

He was pacing the worn floor. "Why won't you talk to me?" His face was covered in sweat. "You can't just leave. You have no right to move on. There is nothing after me. Do you hear me?"

"Please," the words came from deep with in but with only a push of air. "I can't." Everytime we had these arguments it took more out of me emotionally and physically than I had. I had been broke down to the point that I didn't know myself. That was the reason I had left.

Devon kneeled down in front of me grabbed my arms and shook me. "Do you hear me? What do I have to do?"

"Leave me be! Please." I begged pulling my knees deeper into my chest.