By Strickland Hawkins
After the first time he’d driven her to the emergency room, she’d discovered him the next day sobbing into his childhood bunny. When he said never again—he was so sorry—she’d believed him. Then, he broke her jaw.
She’d been going through his pants pockets ever since, scrabbling together enough money for a bus ticket: a nickel here, a quarter there, praying he wouldn’t notice.
Now she fingered the side seam of the bunny’s body, put her thumbs inside the almost invisible hole, and ripped it in half, sending a shower of coins onto the table.
She began to count.
Vivid piece about a very relevant subject. I loved how the title becomes the reader’s hopeful ending. I wasn’t sure about the coins in the bunny as stuffing it with notes would have given the victim a greater escape – she should have noticed a jingling bunny. That being said, I understand your reasons. It has multifaceted meaning and is well considered (especially the counting at the end). I loved how his immature refuge became her way out. Wonderful.
Great read.
This packs a lot of punch. Wow!
I loved it. Having been in an abusive relationship, I could feel it. I would have just changed the his to her childhood bunny. Then the money works (why would she put it in his) and the fakeness (is that a word) of the guy really works. He’s tugging at her heart with her own cherished memory/toy. Minor though. The story touched me!!