She looked into the mirror after weeks of walking past. After the last beating she had to take the stress had made her hair fall out fast. She stared and a tear ran down her cheek, she felt like dying she looked horrible from lack of sleep. She fell to the ground and cried, the pain was so deeply ingrained it could not hide. Slowly she got up of the floor and got dressed, walking out the door in headscarf, jeans, and a baggy vest. she walks down the road with a big smile on her face saying hello to people trying to keep her pace. She picks up her kids and heads home to cook, her child draws her a picture and begs her to look. She smiles widely and holds out her arms the child runs to her and she feels contented and new, her other children are smiling she sees they are happy through and through. The dinner is cooked and there is a key in the door, she holds the dishcloth tight and looks down to the floor. Everyone is smiling and dinner is eaten, kids bathed and in bed she knows she will be beaten. She lays there not making a sound the tears are running down her face again but this time she cannot cry aloud. He says I love you and she says it back,but all she can think about is the bruising not showing because she is black. She wakes up in the morning sore and hurt, but she has to get his sandwiches and iron his trousers and shirt. He goes out to work after giving her a kiss she looks at him and smiles, she knows some relationships have gone through this. She starts the day the school run is done she heads back home talking to no one. She sits in the hall she looks in the mirror at one point she was pretty and thinner. The kids are not there and the man is at work she can now concentrate on the pain and the hurt. She cries out loud while she takes of her coat the bruise on her side she thinks something is broke. She has a shower and sits on the bed she thinks would the children be alright is she were dead. Her hair is nearly gone and she is angry its time for a change what kind of man is he. She cleans the house and gets dressed, she leaves the house with headscarf, jeans and a baggy vest. She walks down the road with fear on her face covered by a smile while she keeps her pace. The day goes the same kids happy and smiling, keeping the smile on her face is becoming tiring. The dinner is cooked and there is a key in the door he comes in and she is there he thinks waiting for more. The kids are at their aunties in bed and asleep and its now time to get rid of this creep. His bag is packed and its outside, she has her strength and some of her pride. He gets out of the bath and gets dressed for bed, he sits on the sofa watching father ted. It's now or never she goes in she straddles his lap and punches him in the head. She head butts him he screams out in pain and holds his face but she does it again. She kicks him in the nuts and brings him down to his knees, she beats him the way he beat her she let the anger out and she feels free. She is tired and she cant do this anymore so she punches him in the throat and shows him the door. He calls her names and says she shouldn't go it alone but she knows without him there the house will feel like a home. Her friend comes round and helps her tidy up, making jokes calling her a mucky pup. Her friend reassures her everything will be ok, but she is not so sure he will stay away. She goes to court and sorts it out that he will never again be there to scream or shout. The kids were sad but now there not because they know there mum was hurting a lot. Everyday now is peaceful and calm there are even regular trips to help out at the local farm. The hole in there hearts will never healed as that is a place that he will always fill. for her now she is happy baking, cleaning, changing nappies knowing that her life will never be again be so dark and crappy.

I like the ending very much. I was immediately thrown back into rose madder, S.K., when I started reading.
the remark about the bruise on black was hard to ignore. I am trying to believe you have an imagination.
I am not having much luck with that
could I please give you a virtual hug.
it would make me feel a bit better
ya im a little self centered, but like treating people the way I like to be treated. till they prove that's stupid. then I treat them the way they treat me. I think that may be why I like this so much. the thought is not pleasant. the ending,,, lets say I have a crush on hope.

thank you for the support I do appreciate it I will be reading s.k madder now my book collection might just grow. ( and hugs back to you)