| Two Beds and a Coffee Machine By Kasey M. Dunton Based on the song by Savage Garden, �Two Beds and a Coffee Machine� It took me longer than usual to come to. The blood from the gash on my forehead had dried, and my wrist was bruised badly. I sat up wearily, looked around. Steve was asleep in his chair, pieces of half a dozen beer bottles smashed around him. That night had been worse than most. More beer, more problems, not the least of which had been losing $500 on drunken football bets. I shuddered as I quietly righted the table he�d thrown toppling over, throwing away the shards of glass from my favorite lamp which had been flung in the process. And she takes another step Slowly she opens the door Check that he is sleeping Pick up all the broken glass and furniture on the floor I crept to the nursery and picked up Danielle, my three-month-old pride and joy. She woke up, but living with Steve had taught her not to cry. I carried her, along with the diaper bag I kept packed for such emergencies, out to the car. The cool San Francisco air was silent as I started the car, holding my breath and praying the noise of the engine wouldn�t give away my intentions. I breathed a sigh of relief when no one stirred, at least not visibly through the front window, then drove off down the street, towards the freeway which would take me back to the only place I had ever truly felt safe. Been up half the night screaming now it's time to get away Pack up the kids in the car Another bruise to try and hide Another alibi to write. As I drove up the entrance ramp, the magnitude of what I had done began to bombard me. If Steve ever found me, I�d be dead before I could plead and beg for mercy. It was truly the point of no return. And if�no. I couldn�t even think about what would happen if things didn�t work out back east. It was the only shot I had at a life. For me or for Danielle. Another ditch in the road You keep moving Another stop sign You keep moving on And the years go by so fast Wonder how I ever made it through I could only hope I wasn�t turned away in New York. After all, the one I was going to�we�d left it on some bad terms, to put it mildly. I�d gone back to Steve, broken his heart�a month later, I�d found out Danielle was on the way, but he�d never known�He still didn�t. Every instinct in me was telling me to turn around. Maybe Steve wouldn�t even notice I was gone, and I could- No, I couldn�t. It was no way to live a life, to raise a daughter, being in that house. I couldn�t stand to go back, it made me sick inside. And there are children to think of Baby's asleep in the backseat Wonder how they'll ever make it through this living nightmare But the mind is an amazing thing Full of candy dreams and new toys and another cheap hotel Two beds and a coffee machine But there are groceries to buy And she knows she'll have to go home I kept driving for two days straight, pausing only to eat and refill the tiny car with gas, plus tend to Danielle. She, who�d had to learn her lesson about being quiet the hard way back home, was better than gold, sleeping most of the time. My anxiousness dissipated as I drove east, then began to increase as I neared New York. A million scenarios ran through my head, each one bleaker than the last. But still I pressed onward, knowing it was my only chance. Another bruise to try and hide Another alibi to write Another lonely highway in the black of night I reached Danny�s building at something like 4 a.m. Carrying Danielle and every hope of my life, I knocked on his door. He opened it, looking groggy, then seemed to snap awake when he saw me. I must�ve looked like hell warmed over, with dark circles under my red eyes, cuts and bruises all over me, but he quickly led me inside and sat me down on the couch. But there's hope in the darkness You know you're going to make it �Rebecca, I�I can see you�re not okay, so I won�t ask that, but�who did this to you?� �Steve,� I answered quietly. �He was out of control, and I�I had to get out of there before he ruined Danielle�s life as badly as he ruined mine�� I smiled down at our beautiful little girl, still sleeping quietly in my arms. �So that�s who this is?� he asked gently, smiling down at her as well. �Does she need anything?� �Just her daddy.� I looked pointedly at him. �Her�I�Rebecca, I�she�s mine?� He looked like he was torn between apologizing and grinning. I nodded and he slowly, gently, almost tentatively, brought his lips down to brush mind lightly. �I�ve missed you,� he whispered. �Me too,� I whispered back. �You�re probably beyond tired�Take my bed, I�ll sleep out here. As for Danielle�� He surveyed the room, trying to think of something. �We�ll be okay,� I said quietly, cutting off his improvization. �Together, we�ll all be okay.� He wrapped his arms gently around me and Danielle at the same time and kissed the top of my head. �You�re right,� he whispered. �We will be.� Another ditch in the road Keep moving Another stop sign You keep moving And the years go by so fast Silent fortress built to last Wonder how I ever made it. |