COMPASSION

“It is darkness that allows us to see the light"

 - Philip Regenie

Margaret looked out her front window at the grey overcast sky while waiting for Ruth to come over for their Monday morning coffee.  It had been a really good weekend with the family.  Len, Jen, and Jack had played in the canyon behind their house almost all day both Saturday and Sunday.  It was everything she could do to get them to come home to have their favorite lunch; tomato soup, chocolate milk and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Margaret watched Ruth pass by the window.  Something was wrong, her shoulders were rolled forward and her head bobbed like someone who had no reason to hold it up anymore.  Thank God the kids were in school for at least another hour, it looked like Ruth had a bad weekend.  Lately, they could hear the screaming going on across the breezeway that separated their condos.  Ruth and Russell had been having a hard time of it now for quite some time.  Russell hated Los Alamos and started drinking with some unsavory types at the bar.  Margaret waited for the knock on the door, she knew that Ruth would want to compose herself before she answered.  Ruth rang the doorbell just once, very lightly.  Margaret opened the front door and pushed open the screen door, "Good Morning, Ruth, I was really anxious to see you this morning."  Ruth looked up at Margaret as the sweet vanilla scent of chocolate chip cookies wafted past her and out the door.  Ruth's shoulders rose and moment, only a moment of satisfaction and a slight quiver of a smile raced across her face to be replaced by her entire beings scream "Please help me!"  Her clothes hung limp on her torso, her face sagged and had an abrasion on the left lower cheek, her eyes were red, and she could not even muster her usual "Hello."

"You better come in and sit down Ruth.  I'll get you a coffee or would you like a soothing tea?"  Margaret said.

Ruth shuffled over to the kitchen table and looked out the kitchen window as tears fell from her cheeks.  She looked at Margaret ashamed, "The tea sound nice Margaret.  Thanks."

"Honey, you look awful.  What can I do to help?"  Margaret asked.

Ruth started with a sniffling whisper, "He hit me last night.  I just wanted him to stay home and not go drinking with Ralph."  Her sniffling turned into sobs.

"Cry it out honey."  Margaret finished filling the tea pot and putting it on the gas burner.  "You need to leave him Ruth.  It's not good for you or Jack to be around someone who acts this way.  Did Jack see or hear anything?"

"It's been getting worse and I think Jack is starting to get affected.  He's hardly ever home and when he is, he stays in his room."  Ruth said.

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Copyright © 1993 - 2010 Philip Regenie, All Rights Reserved