You've Hurt Me For The Last Time

“Why do you put up with it, Ellie?”1

Ellie pulled her shirt back down over her stomach. She looked up at Jane. Tears began forming in her eyes, but again, she bit her lip and held them back. She would not cry. She would not show that Austin could make her cry. Not anymore. She absently ran a hand lightly over the new set of bruises on her stomach. Wincing, she shrugged. She lowered her gaze to the floor.2

“Come on. Answer me this time,” Jane pleaded with her.3

“I don’t have an answer for you. I never did, and I don’t think I ever will. I love him. You know that. And it’s not as easy as you make it out to be to stop loving someone,” Ellie replied. The tears began spilling out and running down her cheeks.4

Jane placed a reassuring hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “I know that. But this isn’t about loving him. Hun, he’s going to kill you one day. Do you realize that?”5

Ellie shook her head. She never really thought Austin would go that far. She thought he’d get better eventually. But he hadn’t. He hadn’t sought help at all. The violence was getting worse too. At first, it was just a slap to the face or even a punch in the arm every now and then. Now, she was getting thrown against the wall and getting beaten until she couldn’t stand up. He’d even pushed her down the stairs once or twice.6

Austin would’ve killed her by now if she didn’t pretend to pass out after a while. He seemed to get discouraged when she did that. Probably because, at that point, he didn’t get the satisfaction of seeing her cry or hearing her scream. But after a few kicks and punches, a good throw against the wall, she’d pretend just to pass out. He might kick her again once or twice, but he got bored eventually and left. Ellie would be back in bed with the door locked by the time he returned.7

Jane was right, Ellie realized. He would kill her. If not soon, he would eventually go too far and just end it. All it took was a well-placed kick to the head or a bad fall down the stairs. That would be it, end of Ellie Roberts, and all because she couldn’t find the guts to leave her abusive boyfriend.8

She had way too much to live for. She had a beautiful home very near to the beach. She had a wonderful job that she loved and worked very hard at. She’d always wanted to start a family. A few children would be nice, maybe a dog as well. She’d never be able to do that with Austin. She’d have to be crazy to have a child with him. All that would do was put the child at risk of receiving the same treatment she received. No. She was going to end it. Right at that moment, she decided it. She was going to end it all. She’d put a stop to his ways.9

“You know, Jane? You’re absolutely right. I can’t believe I put up with it for so long. It’s over. It’s all over,” Ellie said, pushing her chair back as she got up.10

Jane got up quickly as well, surprise written all over her face. “You’re serious?”11

“I’m positive.”12

“Well, do you need help?”13

“I might. Let’s just get in the car. I’ll explain on the way.”14

Ellie raced out to the car, followed closely by Jane. They had to hurry, or Austin would beat them home and their plan would be ruined. Jane gunned the car backwards, and then pushed the accelerator all the way to the floor as she kicked the car into drive.15

Jane parked in the alley behind Ellie’s house. They got out and crept around the side of the house to the front door. Checking the driveway, they noticed that Austin wasn’t home. Perfect.16

They quickly entered the house, leaving the door unlocked.17

“Ok. Go through the kitchen. The pantry door is on your right,” Ellie explained.18

“Come on. Calm down. I’ve been to your house about a million times. I already know.”19

Ellie chuckled. “Ok, go. I’ll be in shortly.”20

Jane raced into the kitchen, and Ellie heard the door squeak as it was opened and again when it was closed. She dialed Austin’s cell.21

“Hello?”22

“Hey, it’s Ellie. Uh, I sort of burned dinner. Can you pick something up on the way home?”23

“Are you friggin serious!? You’re so useless! Remind me again why I’m still with you.”24

“You jerk! What is that supposed to mean!?” Ellie asked, pretending to be offended.25

“Don’t use that tone with me, you little bitch! I’ll deal with you when I get home.” And with that, he hung up.26

“What did I tell you? He’s so predictable.” Ellie yelled in to Jane. She heard Jane laughing from the pantry. Ellie allowed herself to join Jane in laughing as she went into the kitchen to wait for Austin to get home.27

Ellie was idly scribbling on a napkin when she heard the front door slam. She got up and threw the napkin away, storing the pen in a container sitting on the counter that they kept pens and pencils in.28

Austin came striding into the kitchen. “Where’s my dinner?” he roared when he saw nothing on the stove.29

“I told you I burned it. I thought you were going to pick something up?”30

Austin laughed and then grew serious again. “You should’ve known I wasn’t going to pick anything up! You weren’t intelligent enough to start making something else!?”31

Ellie shook her head. She was scared. Her legs were shaking. But she stood her ground and looked him dead in the eye.32

His right hand shot out and struck her across the left side of her face. It stung, but Ellie was used to the pain by now. She just smirked.33

“Wipe that look off your face, bitch! Or I’ll wipe it off of there for you!”34

“Go ahead,” Ellie said, propping a hand mockingly on her hip. “I’d like to see you try.”35

This time, Austin punched her in the stomach. Ellie’s breath gushed out of her and she lost her balance. She began to fall backwards, but instead hit the table. Austin caught her and immediately began slamming her head repeatedly off of the cold, hard surface. He then threw her up against the wall nearest to them and began punching her in the stomach while holding onto her by the hair. He let go of her hair and she fell to the floor. He began kicking her in the stomach, moving his foot eventually to kick her in the leg. Ellie just laid there and took it, for it would all soon be over.36

After she’d had enough of the kicking, she pretended to pass out like she always did. He kicked her a few more times and then spit on her. She gagged, but held it back. Just wait, she told herself. Her time would soon come.37

Austin laughed and walked over to the counter, pulling out a pot from the cupboard. He began filling it with water. Behind him, Ellie grabbed for the item that she had laid down on the chair. After she had a good hold of it, she got up quietly and snuck up behind him, glad that she’d taken her shoes off earlier.38

Austin, totally unaware of the attacker behind him, turned around right as Ellie raised her arm up to strike. He gasped and dropped the pot. Before he could strike her first, Ellie brought down the butt of the gun on his head. His head snapped sideways and he fell back against the counter. She let him fall.39

Ellie stared him down from above. She laughed, loud and crazy-sounding, but she didn’t care. Keeping the gun aimed at his heart, Ellie clicked the safety button into the off position. She looked over to the pantry door and nodded. Jane appeared with her cell phone in hand. She dialed three numbers and put it to her ear.40

“I’d like to report an emergency,” Ellie heard her say before everything went silent. Ellie blocked out everything around her but herself, the gun, and Austin.41

She wanted to pull the trigger right then and there, but she held back. Sure, she’d like to pay him back for all the pain he’d caused her. All the years of her life wasted with him. But she didn’t need a murder on her record. Nor did she need it looming constantly over her head. She sighed heavily, but never took her eyes off of Austin. He just stared up at her pleadingly as her cold eyes stared him down. She no longer cared about him. He would no longer be a part of her life. Never again would she speak to or see him again.42

Jane placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her a bit. Everything surrounding Ellie came back into focus.43

“They’ll be here shortly,” Jane informed her.44

Ellie did nothing but nod, for she didn’t dare take her eyes off of Austin. He was quick. All he would need was a second or two of inattention, and he’d have the gun out of her hands and pointed at her heart before she realized what was happening. Now all they could do was wait patiently for the cops to arrive and take him away.45

She’d press charges of course. Get him a good amount of jail time and a big fine to eventually pay off when he managed to get out. It was over. It was all over. She’d never be beaten again.46

All of a sudden, the front door burst open. Cops swarmed into the kitchen through the doorway. One of them pointed a gun at Ellie and ordered her to put it down. They assured her it was ok. She did as told and laid the gun down on the table as a cop stepped up and handcuffed Austin.47

He threw her a dirty look as he passed. She just laughed.48

“You’ve hurt me for the last time!”49