Love in the shadow

l's cruelty. For days, he didn't hit me, didn't yell at me. Instead, he fed me, gav

and escape. I knew I couldn't, knew I was trapped. He had taken my phone,

me go, but he just laughed. "You're not goi

see my friends and family, to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, to taste th

y the constant fear and anxiety. I knew I had to find a way out, but I did

yes gleaming with a new intensity. I knew that look, knew what it meant

no sign of a cell phone. Michael had taken mine, and I knew he wouldn't leave his own lying around.

e-night conversations, our silly jokes, our deep talks. I wondered if she was looking for me, if

ld tell her where I was, wished I could hear her voice. But I knew it was impossible, at least for

the room. It was a receipt, from a local store. But on the back, there was a phone number, scribbled in hasty handwriting. I recognized the number

e for the first time. I had been trying to call Victoria, my best friend, and he had caught me, his anger

hands and knees, my eyes scanning the dusty floor beneath the bed. And then, I s

t it looked intact. I pulled it out, my eyes fixed on the screen. The battery was dead, but I kne

cked by, feeling like hours, as I waited for the phone to charge enough to make a call. But finally, the screen flickered, and

chael's house, and I can't leave. He's been hurting me, Michael. I'm scared. Go with my flow and

e, Victoria. I need you to come now, Please, Victoria you have to come. I can't take this anym

ce on the other end, her words of reassurance and support. "I'm on m

dn't see me. "Okay, Victoria I

bed, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of him. The coast was clear, for now. I made my way to the front door, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel t

nt when he dropped the food Victoria threw a stone at the window to let me kno

e fixed on the window. "What's going on?

ndow, my heart racing with excitement and fear

ndowsill. His face darkened with anger. "You're trying to es

t pounding in my chest. I knew I had to keep him

"You think you can outsmart me?" he sneered. "You think you c

is, my heart racing with fear. I knew

chael's head jerked towards the sound, his eyes n

hael. I knew it was my chance to escape. I took a deep breat