My anxiety levels were rising and I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the hospital. My eyesight was going bad. I couldn't see the signs correctly. I needed to make it to the E.R before I faint. If I lose any more blood I could faint and possible, end up in a car accident again. I had to breathe so I won't end up having a panic attack. I breathed slow enough to get it under control.147Please respect copyright.PENANAsbb847APxr
I learned to control it the night that I thought I was going to do something stupid, on those nights Scott didn't return home for days on end. He would usually be the one I'd call to help me out of the panic state. But I didn't need him because it was like I was living alone all these years anyways. When I finally got to the ER I almost lost my balance going into the entrance, that is until someone caught me. I didn't know who it was because I felt light headed and out of it. All I could remember was the doctor said "someone get me a gurty! This woman is bleeding!"147Please respect copyright.PENANAtAOif8g9iR
When they got me to the ER they had put me on anesthetics to numb the pain. I woke up from the surgery the doctor asked "May I ask, who are you?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAkQAXxl1cQv
"Arialynn H-i mean Cortez"147Please respect copyright.PENANAOAtHChiF8L
"Okay Arialynn, do you know where you are?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAesLbiDobyV
"Yes"147Please respect copyright.PENANAZsKNB61ERM
"Do you have anyone on your emergency contact list?"147Please respect copyright.PENANA5GgI0Uy5R3
I rubbed my eyes and responded "Yeah"147Please respect copyright.PENANAVtgzcxuDcI
"Okay I just checked and there your husband Scott Hughes—"147Please respect copyright.PENANA01RWbkBEkz
My heart rate skyrocketed when that name was mentioned I immediately said "He's out of my life"147Please respect copyright.PENANAXxHzdFO2y4
"Okay and the Chassidy Fuller?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAdoTYFJ7zfA
"I'll call her and explain she's my children's godmother and my best friend"147Please respect copyright.PENANAsWxhzwe7Ku
"Speaking of which may you explain what happened to you that you almost came in here collapsed from exhaustion and a bullet wound in your hand?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAf5vVujzEeJ
"That um...I uh..." I was trying to think of something but the terror took over me like a wave. I busted out crying and he asked "Why are you crying Miss?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAo2ng82tQb6
"I'm too overwhelmed, can you give me a minute."147Please respect copyright.PENANA6gBt10K19n
"Sure but you have to explain all of this."147Please respect copyright.PENANAY9SjgEuGKN
When he left the room that's when I really broke down. I was filled with mixed emotions, I was sad at the fact that I lost my everything, but I was relieved because I know I didn't have to live in constant fear, and I can finally protect my children. When the doctor came back he asked "Are you okay?"147Please respect copyright.PENANA2b56hvCJPp
"Yes"147Please respect copyright.PENANAANvzVzIAGI
I tried to lift my hand but one was in a wrap and the other had an IV, I asked "Why do I have two IV's?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAKCeFYFER5v
"One is giving you a blood transfusion and the other is hydrating you, now can you tell me what's going on?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAS6M5WflUJr
"Well...I was in a fight"147Please respect copyright.PENANAOIJvbUR2dN
"With who because from the looks of it you got in a lot of fights"147Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ96sUvOdn
"Yeah..uh short temper" I lied to him147Please respect copyright.PENANADRl4Uq9Y5q
"Oh okay and that nasty wound?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAep3bnaCEyJ
"Yeah the uh girl tried to pull a gun on me and we tussled for it and things got out of hands, the gun went off and one bullet shot through my hand"147Please respect copyright.PENANAsGer0iQUnc
"Well you are certainly lucky, because from the looks of the defense wound this girl really had a grudge against you, she really was trying to kill you, if she would have hit a vessel you would have had to get your hand cut"147Please respect copyright.PENANA9mn6HSsyfe
"What?!"147Please respect copyright.PENANA3tnUfDQysM
"Yeah but she only hit your second knuckle"147Please respect copyright.PENANA1vmOUHuzBj
"Thank God"147Please respect copyright.PENANAVpXn45byon
"Is it going to take long to heal"147Please respect copyright.PENANAetKpQgb8ts
"Well sadly, yes but the myth is that the stretched tissue is torn apart. The truth is that tissue is elastic, and it is stretched and then rebounds to its original location within the body. The stretching may cause some bruising of the tissues, but the actual shock wave itself does not disrupt tissues."147Please respect copyright.PENANALuJBPG0qjH
"Thank God"147Please respect copyright.PENANAhGoOyupoiZ
"Certainly"147Please respect copyright.PENANAnYnjHVVrOk
"What exactly did y'all have to do?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAXLLZjWKV1E
"Well after we were finished stitching up the wound and repairing your hand, my team examined your body and did minor surgery on my left rib and stitched this gash you had on your left forearm. We saw bruises and whelps as well...where you abused if I may ask?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAFzSydDzD4H
"No....yes...no it-it was a long time ago"147Please respect copyright.PENANAYVzNqU7S9o
"Well according to the law I have to report this"147Please respect copyright.PENANAWgf9L3KVkF
"Please don't, it was a while ago so you don't have to do that!" I said in a panic.147Please respect copyright.PENANASgGt0h28tU
"Did your h—ex-husband do that?"147Please respect copyright.PENANASlSzwdjCAK
"Yes" I sighed as I bowed my head trying not to think about what happened tonight.147Please respect copyright.PENANApvY1qYEFJm
"Where is he?"147Please respect copyright.PENANADXVPza1Qs5
"I-I don't know"147Please respect copyright.PENANAPLfq7MS9u1
"Well we can't do anything about that now but about the girl if you could give me a description we—"147Please respect copyright.PENANA0h32GQ2aQM
"I don't remember her face because I was blacked out"147Please respect copyright.PENANA1gW16PdD1v
"Okay, well you need to stay here for a few more hour so we can have a close eye on you and this wound"147Please respect copyright.PENANAsFuEUpxMHh
"Okay"147Please respect copyright.PENANAIPhOtfsPjW
"I need to go see another patient but in a few a nurse will be here to clean your wound"147Please respect copyright.PENANAOw5FIMQDWw
"Okay" when he left. I made sure that no one was out in the hall before I snuck out of the room and out the hospital. I couldn't stay here because I know that these doctors lie I know he is going to try and pressure me to answer questions about Scott and I didn't want to deal with him anymore. He's dead to me. I got back into my car and I didn't go to Chassidy's I just had left, actually checked into a motel to take a shower and clean myself up. I just needed to clear my head and get away from all of this. As I slipped off my bloody clothing from my body I'm left with nothing but scars and bruises on me. The wound that is on my rib is healing and I got surgery done for the bullet hole in my left hand, but the doctor said I had to keep it covered at all cost and make sure I clean it three times a day.147Please respect copyright.PENANAEfGi8o7qyO
When the tub was done I wrapped injured hand with a waterproof dressing, so I can be able to take a shower. After doing that I got in and let the warm water pass down my body covering me from head to toe, as I stare into space, just replaying the events in my head. Lately I have been suffering from insomnia because if I try to fall asleep, the thoughts of him pop up in my mind. I know that I'm safe but, something is telling me he'll be back. I'm terrified of what he would do to me? What if he hurt my children? What if I never get to leave him?147Please respect copyright.PENANANKz2GKHev9
I thought of all the possibilities of what might happen if he returns that I didn't even realize that the water was getting a bit cold which jerked me out of my vacant mindset. I grabbed my sponge and body wash and poured it onto the sponge then wet and began to wash my body being careful not to touch the stitches near my right rib cage. When I was finished I dried my body first then I took another towel and dried my hair. Then I sat on the bed and began to put on a pair of panties, jeans, bra and my old army shirt my dad gave me, before passing before my 16th birthday.147Please respect copyright.PENANAHPNPECGqbM
Then I grabbed my red sketchers and put them on then I grabbed my jacket before heading to my car. When I got into the car, I just sat there still...just thinking. To get my mind focused I went into my purse and got my antidepressants and took about three of them, before heading on the road to Chassidy's house. I did all my crying the first two nights I stayed at that motel. I had no reason to cry because I know now that he never really loved me, so maybe if I don't cry anymore, I won't feel the pain of losing the only man that was my everything. I wanted to cry so many time but I know that if I do, I will be letting him win, and I will never let that happen again. When I finally got to Chassidy's, in a few seconds she opened the door for me147Please respect copyright.PENANAWkdBwm77z1
"Hey"147Please respect copyright.PENANAwgwefWf4ak
"Hey, come in"
I gladly did then sit down waiting for my children to arrive from daycare by Chassidy's boyfriend, although I'm a little hesitant to not let him, I did because I didn't want my kids to see me in that horrible predicament. Chassidy started the small talk and said "So how was it with you and Scott did y'all fix things?" If you mean by force, then yeah.147Please respect copyright.PENANAPobX2eGjhL
"Um...about that...it's a long story..."147Please respect copyright.PENANA8LXttNI1DD
"Aria what happened?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAFTpyeoHX2v
I didn't say a word; I just took off my left glove then unwrapped the bandaged to show her the scar tissue that is beginning to heal. She gasped at the horrid injury. She began to cry and said "Aria what did he do to you?"147Please respect copyright.PENANAYkBQheuOoe
I explained to her all of how it all started to how it ended, and where I have been hiding out at for the past few days. She gave me a hug and said "You should have called me"147Please respect copyright.PENANAEF5QjPEHIk
"It wasn't that easy Chass. I couldn't because I was afraid he might find me"147Please respect copyright.PENANAp3RLDtGXLt
"You're safe here"147Please respect copyright.PENANAl08Q9gb5UT
"Do you have a place to stay with the kids?"147Please respect copyright.PENANA2alwG6Z72l
"No...we'll not anymore"147Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2kQmI4hy3
"I got a new futon, y'all can crash here for as long as you need."147Please respect copyright.PENANA60KSI00h2s
"Thank you so much"147Please respect copyright.PENANAMF7NC3P23X
"I'm so sorry this happened to you Marie"147Please respect copyright.PENANAI8vXQKkRzw
"It's okay.... I will get through it, like mama told me 'everything happens for a reason' and I think this is my lesson to learn"147Please respect copyright.PENANAF76wMX4PvO
"It's good that you see the good in the most horrible situation"147Please respect copyright.PENANAeRTRUjb11w
"Yeah... I guess so"147Please respect copyright.PENANAMvg7bHJ67a
I smiled at her suddenly I see my two little ones run up to me giving me a huge hug. I kissed them and cried tears of joy. I'm blessed with everyone that was there with me. They may see me standing strong. But I'm doing it for them, showing them what a strong woman is. But...in reality I'm dying on the floor crying for someone to take this pain that is beginning to build up in my heart. I wonder if I will ever get through all this pain. I know that when I do it will be worth it in the end.147Please respect copyright.PENANAHACpHhK6Ue
Later that night I gasped out of my sleep in a panic with tears and sweat dripping down my face. I felt like I couldn't breath and my heart was racing. I yelled for Marissa because I couldn't handle myself. Marissa stormed into the room busting through the door to comfort me. I was shaking and i didn't feel like I could handle myself I was shaking in fear. I grasped onto her shirt and cried hysterically. She ran her fingers through my hair and whispered "It was just a dream in here Aria. It's over now. You're safe"147Please respect copyright.PENANArEAi1Q9rgp
"P-please not let him hurt us"147Please respect copyright.PENANAmBLGWMdr5S
She whispered "he's gone he won't hurt yall...I promise"147Please respect copyright.PENANA3XLttbsXVu
Another nightmare that I lost my breath to.... I wish it was a nightmare but...it wasn't. I know I'm supposed to feel safe...but it's hard for me to know that if my children were really safe. I looked over at the side of me saw my two little ones still asleep.147Please respect copyright.PENANAU2nE54KixM
"Chass...It happened again though.... accept it felt so vivid like I was reliving every single moment all over again." I grasped onto her shirt and cried almost out of breath with every sob. All the pain and torment I had put myself through just to get where I'm at now. I remember everything. Every bruise, whelp, emotional, physical and verbal abuse he caused to me. Every kiss, every holiday...just everything. All in one. I couldn't stop crying because I didn't want to relive it all over again. But every time I close my damn eyes his face is all I see.147Please respect copyright.PENANA4mWDTFu9Cs
He is all I ever loved since I was young. He was my everything. To think that I was happy for all these years. Just to make my children happy. What was I thinking. I been should have left but I didn't because that's how deep my love was for him. I was stupid enough to get through hell for ten years! I lied my head on Marissa's chest still crying my eyes out silently. Chassidy was the only one I trusted enough to run to. She has no idea how blessed I am to have her in my life. If it wasn't for her.... that night...I don't even know if I would have got out of that house alive. It hurts me to know that I won't be able to like but just like mama said. I don't need no man to make me147Please respect copyright.PENANAloiW0mgfaF
happy. I know I can get through this and I'm going to do right for my kids. I didn't want to stay living with Chassidy forever. I wanted to pursue my dream in becoming a police officer.147Please respect copyright.PENANAN2c22yGmk1
I already did online classes at Community College to get my Bachelor's and Associate's degree. Then I got my degree in law enforcement. It took me a total of 3 years because I already had my high school diploma. You are probably wondering how I managed to get all that, when this mothafucker is running me. I secretly got it online three months after Mackenzie was born. I just lied there crying. I must have cried so much that my head was hurting and my face was throbbing. I had cried myself to sleep I didn't want to go back to sleep because I was afraid to feel the memories again. But then again i was so exhausted I have cried for over an hour. When I woke up I was in the house alone. Chassidy must've took the kids to school for me.