A bike roars outside, and even though I haven't laid eyes on the rider, I know it’s Julie getting dropped off.

“Well?” I say, annoyed by her lack of calling.

“Well, thanks for bringing my car back. Didn’t you have so much fun last night? I did. That was Grime, can you believe that’s what they call him? Grime. These club guys are so weird, but kinky as hell. He was so good in bed.”

“Uh huh, and what about just leaving me? I had to fend off some guy.” That’s a lie; I was trying to protect my heart from a man I used to love, but it still played well into my evening.

“Oh, you were fine! Besides, wasn’t that Jett Stewart, like from high school? You loved him back then. God, you should have slept with him. He’s so hot now.”

Annoyed, I walk back into the house. Julie spends most of the day sleeping and watching TV with Ella; occasionally, she reads her a story or plays a game. But in the evening, good clean fun Julie is gone, and the typical party girl is here to stay. I have no interest in this side of her. I never have. Partying with Julie was a mistake, one I won’t make again. Around nine, I lay down with Ella and fall asleep, waiting for Ty to come to bed.

I wake to giggling coming from the living room the next morning. I sneak around the corner expecting to find them talking again, only to find Julie and Ty all cozy in the recliner. She's sitting there on his lap, and he's got his face buried into her neck. My blood begins to boil as he removes her tank top and kisses her deeply. I can feel the bile rising in the back of my throat and run down the hallway, barely making it to the bathroom. After my nausea fades, I stare at myself in the mirror as anger takes over completely.

Always there in the back of my mind is the memory of that night. We had argued and verbally fought with each other many times, but the first time he hit me, I thought my soul would break in two.

The backhand across my face not only hurt me physically, but mentally as well. I'd cried like a baby, blubbering and sniveling into my pillow for hours on end until I'd finally fallen into a sorrowful sleep. Ty had carried me to bed and watched over me for the remainder of the night. When I woke up, my face was sore and swollen. He had made me breakfast and acted as though nothing had happened.

“Ella, go sit on Mama’s bed, I'll be there in just a minute,” I whisper. Drawing in several breaths, I walk back into the living room loudly. Julie jumps up, covering her exposed breasts. “I'm sorry, Cam. I don't know what I was thinking,” she says.

As she takes a step closer to me, I shake my head. “Get your stuff and get the hell out,” I hiss. Locking eyes with Ty, I scream, “You had me fooled, you really did!” I stand there fighting the anger and tears that are now taking over. He stands there, clearly angry but not speaking. I turn and go to our bedroom, locking the door, and grab my suitcase.

“Mama, what's wrong?” Ella asks, running to me. Tears are streaming down my face as I start slinging clothes into it.

“Sweetheart, we’re leaving, ok? I need you to sit behind the bathroom door for a little while so I can get some things together. Can you do that for me?” I ask, kissing her now damp cheek. She nods and goes into the bathroom, shutting the door. I bend over to pick up some socks that had fallen, and the light glints off my pendant that Ty gave me. I grab it and rip it off, throwing into the corner.

A knock on the door brings me back to reality. It’s Ty, wanting to come in. “Cami, let me in so we can talk,” he says.

“I don't want to talk to you,” I reply between sobs.

“Cami, damn it, I'm sorry… I'm stupid,” he says angrily.

“I don't care how sorry you are, I am done. You have crossed a fucking line,” I snarl. He pounds on the door, and I can hear the stream of obscenities coming from him as he kicks at the door. Ella is whimpering from the bathroom, and that makes my skin crawl. After a couple more kicks, he goes out to his truck seething and slams on the gas once he's in it, backing up haphazardly, knocking over the trashcans. I run down the hallway and grab my coat, phone, and some things for Ella. I'm in the kitchen when Julie comes in with a bag in her hand.

“Cam,” she says softly. I know she’s sorry, or her version of sorry, at least. But I can’t do this shit anymore. Not when I know what’s out there, what I could have. I want more.

“Lock up when you leave. And never come back.”

Loading everything I can into my car, I jump in and crank it up. I go back in the house to grab the last load and Ella. I quickly buckle her in and shift into reverse. I don't know where I'm going, I just have to go. Calling a couple hotels on the way, my frustration turns to hurt. I’m just driving around looking for one with a vacancy, as everything replays in my head, making my chest hurt. Deep down, I knew he’d cheated before, but I had never caught him and never had any hard proof.

I drive until I can't drive anymore, and just a few hours outside of town, I find a vacancy. After fifteen minutes, I gather myself and check into my room. The old, ratty curtains aren't much, and the faded floral bedspread looks ancient, but it's clean and I'm away from Ty. I bring in Ella and my suitcase, plopping it down on the bed, and exhaustion takes over.

I pull Ella to me and hold her close. When I wake up, the room is dark, the only light coming from the dim hotel sign. I reach over and grab my phone, seeing I have about twenty missed calls, all of them Ty. Ella is still sleeping, so I ease into the bathroom and look at my reflection; the streaks of black mascara running down my cheeks flip something within me. In my life, I've never felt so vulnerable and weak, even after Tommy’s death. Then I felt helpless, but not this time. I will change fate, I have to. I jump in the shower and the warm water runs down me, drowning every emotion I feel. For the first time, I'm numb. I get out and dress quickly, being careful not to wake Ella. I crawl back in bed beside her and snuggle up to her.

The morning sun creeps through the old, worn curtains, and I roll over and tuck the blanket snugly around Ella. I turn on my phone and search for my Aunt Suzanne’s number. She lives in Nashville now, in a quiet suburb outside the city. A nice place to stay, to be safe. We drive for hours, but when we finally arrive, I’m happy to see Suzanne in the driveway with a smile on her face. She has a kind look to her. She’s wiping her hands on her apron, just like I remember when I was a child.

I get out of the car and a film of sweat instantly coats my forehead and the heat takes my breath away. We must have had the air conditioning on blast in the car. Aunt Suzanne meets us with a bright smile and the same wild, curly red hair, even though silver strands are now laced through it.

“Oh Cami, look at you. Oh my God, and a mini you,” she says, pulling us into her arms. Her Southern twang is much stronger than I remember.

“Aunt Suz,” I reply with a smile. “Thanks for letting us stay.”

“No worries, dear, we're family and that's what we do for each other. Oh, and your Uncle Henry got the spare room all cleaned out for y’all. Ella, why don’t you go inside and see what Henry’s making for lunch?”

Ella looks at me for reassurance and I squeeze her tiny hand before she sprints off up the concrete steps. I grab our bags as Aunt Suz approaches me again. “Darling, I must address the elephant in the room. What Julie did was wrong, and I hope you know we don't support her behavior. She may be our niece, but she’s always done things her own way.”

“I know, Aunt Suz, I know,” I say softly, hurt piercing my heart once again.

The old house is much the same with its pristine white picket fence and pale blue shutters that frame the windows, which are lined with colorful, fragrant flowers. I notice as I walk inside the house that it still smells like blueberries and whiskey.

“You really should go see your mama. She’s been all alone since your daddy died,” Uncle Henry says as he gives me a hug hello.

“What? When did he die?” I ask, shock in my voice.

“About two years ago. After a night of binge drinking, he was driving down by the river and lost control of his truck. They say he flipped at least eight times before landing in the river.”

“Ella, go clean up, ok?” She nods and skips off to the bathroom. “Why didn't anyone tell me,” I whisper.

“Well, darling, we thought we had. Ty answered your phone and said he'd let you know. When you didn't show up for the funeral, we just figured you just couldn’t handle another funeral. He’s buried on Peach near your brother.” A tear rolls down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away before Ella comes back.

“Mama, look how clean my hands are and they smell so good. Like strawberries!”

I smile and pull her in for a hug. “Great, let’s have some lunch!” I say. I can’t let her know how I feel. She’s my daughter, and I’ll protect her at all costs.

The next morning, I’m barely moving. I didn’t sleep at all, my head spinning with what I’ve missed while I was attached to Ty.

“Aunt Suz,” I begin after sitting down to breakfast.

“Yeah?”

“Would you mind watching Ella today so I can go look for a job?”

“Certainly, I wouldn't mind at all. Isn't that right, Miss Ella?”

Ella smiles a huge grin and runs over to Aunt Suz, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Aunt Suz says she's going to bake a cake today.”

I smile and roll my eyes. “Aunt Suz, you haven't changed a bit.”

She laughs and pats Ella lightly on the head. “Go finish your breakfast, my little love.”

I'm sitting at the table, perusing job listings on my phone, when one jumps out at me. The hospital in town is looking for an experienced department secretary. “I think this one has potential,” I say, excitedly waving my phone around. Aunt Suz smiles as I pass her, running to get dressed.

My nerves are thumping as I walk into the hospital to fill out the application. After twenty minutes and passing the developmental test, I walk out with an interview tomorrow morning. I’m on my way back to the house when I realize I missed my turn on the highway. Another hour will take me to my parents’ old house. Ella is being cared for, so what’s a short trip out of the way?