Don't Cry

Today was the most delightful day! I did it, finally. I was so relieved as soon as it happened. Shelly can't hurt me or our children any more. She didn't use to have any friends, but I took her in but I couldn't help myself ; I fell in love with her. I loved her with all my heart, she meant the world to me. All until Friday, 13th May 2000.

It was Thanks Giving and Shelly had laid the food out neatly as she always did. As I put Sophie, who was only three, in her booster chair I turned to get her sister, Lucy, but before I knew it Sophie had climbed onto the table and managed to get hold of a juicy carrot. As she took her hand away, her charm bracelet got caught in one of the holes of the chrome bowl. She pulled her arm away not knowing she was caught and innocently taking the bowl with her, as she jumped into her booster seat, which knocked the the freshly cooked carrots onto the brand new vinyl floor.

I went over to Sophie and told her "Don't cry, it's all - right. We just won't have any carrots with dinner." But Shelly, she was thinking terrible thoughts - very different to mine. "ALRIGHT? YOU SAY IT'S ALRIGHT?" she was screaming at me at which Sophie started to cry. Shelly fuming so much, she pushed me out the of Sophie then grabbed her, took her over to the oven and put Sophie's hand onto the hot ring. I couldn't bear the sight of my loving wife hurt and scold our beautiful daughter. At which point I scooped Sophie and Lucy, in my protective arms, then took Sophie straight to the hospital.

***

We came out of casualty then I took Sophie to her favourite place - the bus station. We left there about half an hour afterwards and stayed the night in a motel as I thought it was not safe to go home.

We got home the next morning to find that our road to be closed off by the F.B.I. I asked the Sergeant what was happening and was told that a murder had taken place. I asked who the victim was and they told us that it was Charlotte Winston, our neighbour. I was shaking with shock because if they had gone into our house it could have been my wife in the morgue instead. I asked if I could go to my house but the Sergeant told us "Not at the moment as we are still carrying out our investigation. Please bear with us and we will let you know as soon as possible."

Whilst having time to kill, so the girls were not upset by all the commotion, I took them to the fair - ground. The girls were on the Ferris Wheel and I spotted someone hugging the children, so I walked over to them and the women looked up and it was Shelly. I wish, whilst I had the chance, I ran away and started a new life without her. But I was a good Dad so decided that the girls needed their Mum.

Every Thanks Giving after, Sophie was fed from the floor without a plate. I would have said something but Shelly would shout "Shut up Mark otherwise you'll be on the floor as - well. As that is where all the pigs belong." She treated Sophie as a nobody when it came to everybody's birthdays. I got a new Rolex every year, Lucy got Barbie dolls but all Sophie got was an empty cardboard box. But I had to get Sophie's presents secretly because if Shelly caught me, she would throw me out of the house forever.

As Lucy grew up she also got abused. The girls were eight and ten when Shelly would pour deodorant down their throats. The older they got the worse the abuse was.

Every day I tried to call 911 but Shelly would snatch the phone and say I was a child and didn't realise what I was doing and it was a mistake. But one day when she was at work, I called 911 one last time and explained everything. They asked where she was now and I told them "At the Junior School on 'Sheepish Lane'." I Drove to the school to see what was going to happen.

By the time I got there the police were pushing her out of the reception door ; they had put handcuffs on her to stop her from fighting away. She screamed and drew attention to herself, and then she saw me.

***

I followed the car, without them realising, and went to say my statement. They told me that she had confessed to the abuse and the murder. I repeated "murder?" They said "Yes the victim's name was Charlotte Winston. Your neighbour." I collapsed in shock, I believed that it was a group of teenagers. My wife, why did she kill an innocent women? I asked if I could see her.

"What were you thinking? Why did you kill our neighbour, your friend?" I shouted through the cell bars.

"She threatened to tell me to social services. I didn't understand why." She spoke angrily.

" You were abusing Lucy and Sophie. You nearly killed them!"

"I'm sorry. Can you bail me out?"

"NO! You deserve a punishment."

"Are the girls here?"

"Why would I Bring them here? I did ask but they didn't want to see you. You've traumatised them for life."

"I'm sorry."

"I want a divorce! I was your only friend, we fell in love; I introduced you to my friends. Then you betray me like this?"

"No, please don't leave me."

"Goodbye, I'm taking the girls and were going to go and live with my Mum. She doesn't abuse children."

"Please, I'll change. I promise."

" I've given you enough chances, you drew the last straw when I was told you murdered Charlotte."

"That doesn't make me a serial killer."

"In my eyes you a murderer. MURDERER!"

"NO. I'm not that person."

"Today is a delightful day isn't it?"

By then she was crying and screaming for me to stay. I couldn't, the children deserved better...