I cover my eyes. I don't want to see his sneering mouth, his laughing, mocking eyes; those tormenting eyes. I fight him but he is too strong. I feel like I'm drowning. He lets me go, like a cat playing with a mouse. I try to run from him. He is at every door and window. I reach for the phone. He yanks the phone from me and pulls the cord from the wall. He is getting closer. My heart races. I hear him say that if he can't have me, no one will. I run from him. He laughs at me, pulls out a gun and says.......

"No one will want you now. Look at you; no longer tiny and beautiful. Without me you are nothing. No one wants sloppy seconds, so run! See how far you get without me. I'll always be there, watching you. You'll never get away from me. I'll find you. I always do, but.... I don't want you. You're an empty shell. You are nothing!"

He laughs. His laugh gets louder and louder and louder. I cover my ears and close my eyes tightly. It's so loud. I run in different directions trying to get away. He is everywhere. Nowhere is safe. Nowhere will ever be home. I am alone and trapped again. Alone with his laugh surrounding me, suffocating me.

I find though, that he is right.....

People smile at us, my children and me. They hold out their arms to us, beckoning us to safety. One says, "Come, I'll help you, protect you."

I am confused and afraid, yet hopeful. We go slowly at first toward the outstretched arms. I am so afraid. If he finds out he'll kill me. I look back, still hearing his laughter. I gain courage, grab my children's hands and start to walk toward the open arms. I send my children ahead to safety. They are welcomed with love and affection. I turn to look back and make sure we are not followed. I leave all that I own except what I can carry and run to the outstretched arms and smiling face. The kind, gentle stranger smiles at me, encouraging me.