Broken, Chapter 3 I wake up on the stone tile with a killer headache. Actually, it's more of a body-ache than a headache. At least the floor is cold, and is somewhat of an ice pack for my bruises. Groaning, I slowly sit up. I think dawn is just breaking so that means I must have been knocked out on the floor all night. The house is quiet and I hope that means that Howard isn't here. With any luck he is passed out or drunk in a bar somewhere. If he is asleep in our house and I wake him up then I will be in big trouble. I put my shoes on and slip out of the house. I am still in my clothes, and when I reach into my pocket I realize my phone is in my pocket. As I walk down the street, I call my friend Monica. She picks up on the first ring. "Hi. He did it again," I say. "Oh, honey," she says and I am instantly comforted by the sound of her voice. She's been my best friend ever since we were little kids. "What are you going to do?" she asks me. I reply, "I don't really know. I was hoping you could help me." She's silent, and all of the sudden I realize that it is quite early in the morning and I probably woke her up. "Monica, are you there?" I ask. "Oh, yes. Sorry, I was looking something up," she says. "Why don't you come over to my place?" "Okay." I close my phone and keep walking. When I reach the end of my street, I turn and head down Chesterfield until I reach the main road. There are hardly any cars out so I sit down and wait for a taxi. Finally, one shows up and I wave to it. "You're out early, little miss," the driver says. I nod and say, "I'm headed to Downton Avenue. Can you take me?" "Sure." I jump in and am hit with smell of cigarette smoke. It is strong and overpowering but I like it. It takes my mind off of things. As I breathe in the smoke, I stare out the window and watch the world wake up. We pass a few joggers and some old people walking along but it's mostly quiet. Some of the restaurants are just opening and their neon signs light up. The taxi driver then turns onto Downton Avenue and drops me off on the curb. "Thank you," I say. "My pleasure. It'll be 12 dollars." My heart jumps for a second because I think I have forgotten my wallet, but I then remember that I put it in my pocket before I left. Monica's house is across the street and as I make my way towards it I realize how cold it is. Winter is almost here and October is nearly over. In about a month it will be Howard's and my anniversary. I doubt he'll remember. I knock on Monica's door. "Come on in," she says, holding the door wide open. When I walk inside, her labrador, Molly, attacks me with kisses. She barks and whines until I pet her, and her tail nearly knocks me over. "Looks like someone missed you," Monica says, smiling. I walk with her to the kitchen and smell the sweet scent of her cooking. Monica owns a bakery downtown and her pastries are well-known. "So," she says, "how are you?" I laugh feebly. "Not so good." She nods, and opens her mouth as if she wants to say something. "I...I, uh, want you to tell me what happened." I jerk my head up to look at her. She's my best friend, but I can't let her know. He would kill her, I'm sure. I shake my head, causing her to sigh. "You have to tell me! I don't like seeing you like this!" Monica says. "I just want to help you." This makes me freeze. She sounds just like Eric. "It was you!" I say. Her eyes go wide, and I know I am right. "You made him hit me!" I scream. "You want him to go to jail!" I stand up abruptly and my chair crashes to the floor. "You are not my friend," I say. I start to walk to the door. She starts to follow me but stops. She's crying. "No! I didn't want him to hurt you! I just want you to get help..." she sobs. "Your relationship isn't healthy....he shouldn't hit you! If you would just tell the police, they could help you!" I turn around and snarl, "How do you know? You don't. You just think he did something, but he didn't, ok! He didn't do anything!" I stand there glaring at her, tears running down Monica's face. "You don't care. You don't care whether or not he did it. You just want him gone," I say. She stays silent, and I turn on my heel and storm out the door. d