The Back Side of Love

That morning he just showed up. He wanted to have sex. He said I was his wife and he had the right to be with me. He insisted that I do it. I refused. Then he pushed and shoved me. After a while I was pushing and shoving too, trying to get him off of me. It continued; he at me and me back at him. Trapped behind his fist, I tried to run past him. I could not get by. I tried harder and harder using all the force I could, but no matter what I did I could not get away from him. He was tall and muscular, and I a small frame woman. I reached for the gun, hoping he would move. He did not. The gun gave me the courage to run into him. I did not think it would go off, but it did. I was too afraid to look back. So I kept running, and so did he. He ran after me, promising not to let me get away.