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The Long Night

"The Long Night"

Nighttime. I dreaded it. Darkness. Uncertainty, and the feeling of being powerless. I lay down to try to rest.
This was my life now. Devoid of hope.

Abuse, and poverty. No power, only fear.
A shell of emptiness crept over me, squeezing my breath away....my tears flowed. Another night, another weary night.

Trembling, I stroked my little girls hair, as she lay sleeping peacefully
near my side. Born only three years ago, she was small and helpless.
I pulled her close. My two young sons slept in the room down the hall.
I listened for sounds, any sound to alert me, and I would bolt from my
bed to see what was happening...I waited for a noise in the darkness,
I prayed for stillness. Silence.

I prayed for Gods help once again. I prayed for HIS strength within me to overcome the evil in this house.

I hoped the man passed out drunk on the sofa, would stay there,
sleeping...unable to reign down evil on all of us tonight.
My husband... I didn't know him and the monster he had he become,
how would I escape?

My eyes strained to stay open as the night dragged on, I looked at the clock thinking if I looked at it every few minutes, morning would come faster...
time stood still. So weary. I had to stay awake. I had to protect my children.
I prayed again, help me God.

He only hit me when he got mad or drunk. I would not let him hit the children, but he scared them. I worried if something happened to me, what he may do
to the children if I were not there to protect them. I wanted to leave. I was so afraid. I had no money. I had nowhere to go. I prayed for an answer.

Darkness loomed in the shadows outside my small window, and for what seemed like only a moment I slept fitfully, to be suddenly jolted awake by the sound of the outside door slamming shut! I must have dozed off! Oh No! I let down my guard!

Startled, I wasn't sure what was happening! I started to shake, my mind raced, ready to do whatever I had to do to get through the violence that was sure to come.

Daylight peered through the window!

I heard the sound of his truck start up!
He left for work, he was gone.

I hugged my baby girl close, and smiled as my sons came into the room and snuggled up on the bed next to me.

Another sunrise, another day.
We were safe.

I sighed, as tears welled up in my eyes.

I knew with Gods power, someday, someway HE would lead me to a
place where there would be no more long nights.

I thanked God for today, and for better tomorrows to come.

Faith.

TJ SILBA:Collections of Life 2021

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