Battered Wife

One dark, cold night
When the earth was covered in white
I ran for my life
--an escapee wife.

I knew not where,
Nor did I care,
Where I was going,
Nor did I think of slowing.

It was a mindless flight
Through a sea of white.
My only thought was to get away,
It was impossible to stay.

As snowflakes swirled in my face,
I increased my pace.
I could hear him behind me somewhere;
Or did I just imagine him there?

There is a pain in my side
As I slip and slide
In the snowy street,
Praying for someone to meet.

But I am all alone,
Trying to find a phone
To call someone to help me
Get away from Lee.

Oh God, let me find someone!
I had to leave my son
Behind with that madman
So I could find help, if I can.

Grabbed from behind and spun around,
I lose my footing and fall to the ground.
"I'll kill you, bitch!" he yells at me,
As I struggle to get free.

I see a knife flash in his hand,
As I finally manage to stand.
Turning to flee,
Help comes to me.

A car stops and a cop jumps out.
"Drop the knife!" was his shout.
Lee is like a man crazed.
He turns on the cop, dazed.

That crazy look is in his eye;
I know that one of us will die.
I try to shout a warning,
As this night of horror turns to morning.

Lee jumps at the man,
Knife raised in his hand.
"No!" I shout at Lee,
Not wanting the cop to die because of me.

I see the knife plunge into the man,
As the cop fires the gun in his hand.
Lee falls to the ground dead,
A bullet in his head.

My rescuer is bleeding badly,
As he looks at me sadly.
"He left me no choice!" I hear him cry.
"I never meant for him to die."

I hold him tight,
And tell him it's all right.
Thanked him for saving my life,
And thanked God I was no longer Lee's wife.