In Life's Parking Lot

Just get to the car with the groceries, she thought as she trudged through the parking lot. Her life had change so drastically since their separation. Peaceful was the word, and maybe a bit boring. Boring was good after the yelling and the fear. Fear of the next tantrum, of the next blow. I do not miss the bruises, she thought. It is okay being alone. Better than listening to how useless and unattractive he thought she was. There is a better life and she was going to live it! But now, her goal is to get use to alone, uneventful, and boring. How her life will change, she thought; and for the better.

The couple caught her attention because of the yelling. He was in her face, pouring out slurs and insults faster than lighting. Memories flooded her mind. The look on that woman’s face was powerful; she braced herself as if she were right in the fight with her. She could feel the hurt, and the terror. She could see the woman waiting and cringing, waiting for the hand to fall.
What can she do, she asked herself. What would she have wanted someone else to do when she was that woman? Getting involved would only disrupt the peace she had come to love. Then the man grabbed the woman’s hair, violently shaking and the other hand come down on her face.

As she tensed even more, and felt like crying and screaming, she picked up the phone and called the police as she jumped from her car with the pepper spray. I have to stop this, she thought, even if to interrupt until the police get her. I have to help this woman know she stand for herself. I have to be an example now.