This short story, *Ahem* very short story is dedicated to the fight against domestic abuse. Report it, Speak out, Get out or Get help!!!
“My head, My Head” I heard linda shout as Shina beat her continously, the screaming continued, the beating continued and all of a sudden, there was silence, silence so thick one could cut through with a ‘suya knife’ engrossed the building. I stopped knocking.
The beating and abuse was no news, I remember when they moved in as newly weds, the barely could keep their hands off each other and they appeared to be very much in love, the first three months were quiet and everything was fine. One Tuesday night, Shina comes back from work and it all started, “you don’t respect me at all he yelled! You don’t and I am going to replace you”. He seemed very angry I just sat in my apartment still and I listened. He continued to yell and all of a sudden I heard it, he hit her hard across the face and a few minutes later I could hear franctic apologies while linda cried and would not listen to him, later that night I needed the help of my pillows to keep from hearing the music, as the made love and supposedly made up.
The next few weeks, things were back to normal and Shina appeared calm, it was a Sunday morning and I heard it again this time he hit her more than once and she came out looking like a disfigured ‘cocoa pod’. Whats happening I probed, I’m fine she smiled and hurriedly walked away. This continued for three years almost every week and now I could hear it again this time harder than ever, he seemed angrier and I did not understand what was happening.
As silence washed over me, for a minute there I could not speak,I could not move. As soon as I regained my composure I resumed banging on the door, this time the other neighbours were around, Shina opened the door, looking confused, "she is not moving" he grunted, "she’s not moving" he said again this time almost shouting we rushed in and there laid Linda, she wasn't moving. The ambulance came, the police shortly after. She is not moving Shina said again this time sober as the police cuffed him.
I felt horrible that night, I wish I had said something to someone, I wish I had probed harder, asked more questions… above all I wish she got help.
