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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Clarify (10/15/15)
Hazel was a nondescript little woman, looking older than her forty years. Her hair was graying, her eyes lacked life and her mode of dress dowdy.

She had not always been this way. At twenty five she was slim and attractive. She held a prominent position in the company she worked for and wore the latest fashion, both in clothes, makeup and hairstyles.

Greg had fallen in love with her beauty, she looked good on his arm, an ideal trophy wife. Greg was charismatic in personality; a highly intelligent professional. He was also extremely possessive and a narcissist.

Not long after their wedding he started isolating Hazel from her circle of friends, she long ago had lost contact with her family. He was demanding, expecting her to fullfil his every need while putting her down at every opportunity. As the years passed he became more demanding and controlling.

He never liked what she cooked, yet ate it lustily as if he enjoyed every mouthful. Her housekeeping though spotless was never good enough, Greg would run his finger along the most insignificant places to make sure he found dust and complain. He complained about her ironing.

When she failed to fall pregnant Hazel went to the doctor, he said there was nothing wrong with her. When she broached the subject to Greg about him having investigations he ’ blew his top’. If she couldn’t conceive; it was her fault, not his. He often reminded her that she had failed to give him the son he so desperately wanted.

Hazel did not drive, he told her she was so dumb she would never pass a license test, so she didn’t try. Over the years she retreated more and more into herself and allowed herself no close friends.

Greg controlled the money, dishing it out miserly, expecting her to account for every cent, though he always had enough to spend on his many pleasures. Over the years Hazel had carefully fudged her accounting and had managed to squirrel away $4,000.

They attended the local church where Greg was on the leadership team. He was popular, well thought off and was a regular speaker in the pulpit. Hazel attended less and less, she knew what a hypocrite her husband was she didn’t care what excuse he gave them.

But Hazel had a secret. She borrowed romance books from the local library. Every day after he left for work she would curl up in the lounge chair and slip in to her secret world, fueled by the romances she hungrily devoured. She dreamed about a secret lover who loved her unconditionally. She traveled to romantic destinations and gave birth to beautiful children. Her daydreams were her only means of escape, that is until one day.....

...Hazel walked into the library ready to return her books and borrow more. A colorful brochure demanded her attention. STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, screamed at her in huge letters. She picked it up, and as she read, started to tremble. Sitting down in a nearby chair, she read and re-read the brochure.

The lights in her mind came on, her situation became clear for the first time. She was a victim of domestic abuse, and he, Greg was the perpetrator. Until now she had thought domestic abuse was only physical, she was now aware that she was a victim of emotional abuse.

Immediately her eyes regained their sparkle and clarity enveloped her mind. She had a spring in her step as she went home, her mind working overtime as she walked. Looking at herself in the mirror properly for the first time she saw behind the dowdy image the women she used to be. $4,000 was enough to leave and start a new life. She would go to Centrelink and find out what financial help they could give her. The Salvation Army had a welfare arm, she was sure that they would help her find accommodation.

She rang the Domestic Violence help line, stuffed the $4000 and a few toiletries into a bag then walked through the front door with steel in her backbone and determination in her mind. She bought two modern outfits and underwear at Target. After an interview at Centrelink she walked to the local Salvation Army office. A bright future beckoned.

...Greg walked into the house at 5.30 as he usually did, he sat in his chair and waited for Hazel to bring him his coffee. It never came, she had flown the coup.
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This article has been read 591 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Bonnie Bowden 
10/23/15
So sad that highly respected men in the church treat their wives with such disregard.
Francie Snell 
10/26/15
The Lord showed Hazel the way out of her prison. What a wonderful Shepherd we have. Good story.
God Bless
Pat Small
10/28/15
This was a good story. I saw numerous punctuation errors so you need to pay attention to that. You told a good story. A little more attention to detail will bring your writing up.
esther robinson
10/29/15
Ninety nine percent of the women in my country are Hazels. Your Hazel had an option, whereas even that clarity seems to be a rarity here. Good piece of writing.