Sarah Leeland

"No, he didn't hurt me, he never does." she said, not daring to look Shane in the eyes. "I'm so sorry, he's never been violent before. I didn't think- I'm so so sorry, are you alright?"

Stupid. Stupid, stupid Sarah. What kind of question was that? Of course he wasn't alright. She had done the worst thing a girlfriend could possibly do. And she was asking if he was alright. 

"I just mean- do you need a doctor?" she sighed and made herself look up at Shane. She didn't feel like she deserved to even look at him. 

"Stop" she said, first too low for anyone but her to hear, then again, a bit louder. "Stop hitting my boyfriend, please." her voice was breaking and she didn't sound half as determined as she wanted, but they had to stop. 

"I'll scream. I'll scream and I'm a minor and people will know and you'll get in trouble." It occurred to her as she spoke that she had never spoken up against him before, she'd made excuses, but she had never stood up for herself.

Somehow it worked. Sort of. The man hit Shane once again before he grabbed his trenchcoat and his clothes and made his way past Shane. Before he left he put the coat on, which was a good thing. Finally she was gone. 

Tears were running down her face as she watched the scene play out. Please just leave she thought, hoping that this could end and she could just apologize to Shane and... No, there was no way he could forgive this. She was losing him, things had been going too well, of course it had to end in disaster.