I stood in front of my parent’s front door debating whether I should or not.

Charles was out for the day, working at the bank. And I was left to do what I pleased with the notion that he wasn’t going to find out.

I was dressed too warmly for the summer’s day. The outfit was my husband’s new cover-up for my bruises, scratches and wounds. It seemed I would be getting a very large wardrobe at this rate.

I stared at the knocker. Hoping that by some chance the door would just open on its own. But nothing happened as I stared intently.

In the back of my mind, I knew they were not going to help me. They hadn’t helped me when I didn’t wish to marry this man, so why would they help me get out of my marriage. A divorce would be looked down upon by many of the folk here; they would never opt for that.

And what other choices did I have? I was his wife. He could do whatever he wanted to me. And I couldn’t object. But some how, it felt so wrong! And it hurt too.

I took a deep breath and reached for the knocker. Even though I knew this wasn’t going to help, they were my last chance.

My father answered the door, his eyes were dark and he looked like he hadn’t had a good night’s rest in weeks. When he looked up at me, his eyes lighted up just a little.

“Oh, Esme. Its so good to see you.”

“Its good to see you too father.”

He motioned me into the house keeping his voice low, he asked. “What brings you here?”

“Problems.” I whispered back.

He nodded, but loud footsteps came down the stairs before he could say anything more.

“WHO WAS AT THE DOOR!?!” I heard my mother scream down the stairs, much to my displeasure.

She was in the living room within a second, and she took a minute to recognize me.

“What are you doing here?” She asked sharply.

“I…I…” I stuttered.

She glared at me waiting for a clear answer. I got a-hold of myself quickly, clearing my throat I began again. “My husband has been hurting me.”

My father stared at me, his face furious and shocked. My mother never calmed her glare.

We stared at each other for what seemed like eternity. Both my father’s and my mother’s gazes burned a whole through me. I briefly wondered why I even tried in the first place.

When my father made a move to speak, my mother finally took notice, and snapped quickly. “You are a strong girl. You’ve had worse from that damn tree when you were young. You will get over it.”

My father looked to my mother in horror, and back to me.

In some ways, I wasn’t surprised by their abandonment, but it still hurt. And now I stood up slowly and walked to the door, fighting my tears the whole way there.
I moved in a daze really. I wasn’t looking forward to going back to the house, so I wandered the streets aimlessly.

I didn’t know where I was going, until I was there. I stood staring up at the old tree for a long minute, remembering all the times when I ran here for safety. Now, here I was again, in need of solitude.

I walked up to the trunk, stroking the rough wood as I reached for the nearest branch. I didn’t have to step on tiptoes anymore to grab it. And it was even easier to lift my weight up a few inches to grab the next. I lifted my full weight onto the first branch and carefully stood up, reaching for the next branches, and slowly stepping myself up to the top.

I must have looked silly to any passing stranger. A full grown woman, climbing a tree in an expensive dress. But, it was a simple thing to do really. I didn’t even have to think about it. I was back to a time of simpler worries, I could almost taste my old sense of freedom, and I wanted more of it.

The top wasn’t even hard to reach. I was there in no time, and I found a good perch without thinking. I sat and stared at the beauty of nature around me. The cool breeze was comforting and my worries were drained away. I wondered briefly why I ever stopped coming here.

Then, with too much intensity, I remembered the fall. I looked down below me at the branches. It was apparent that they had grown back in, but the memory was very clear. But, out of all those things, I remembered the doctor. The doctor who smiled and asked about the view, when I told him I fell from a tree. And the doctor who didn’t care weather I was acting lady-like or not.

I felt a sudden compassion for the doctor. He understood me, in a way. Closer than anybody I ever knew.

But he had moved away years ago. And I had never given it a second thought. He may have been the only chance I had of getting away from this town, and I blew it. I smiled grimly to myself, leave it to me to screw things up.

I looked towards the horizon, and I was quickly thrown out of my trouble free thoughts. The sun was almost set, and Charles was going to be home.

I tried to get down from the tree as quickly as I could, without breaking my leg again. But it seemed that the tree had grown, and the way going down, was longer than coming up.

Once I was down, I ran quickly to the house, praying that he wouldn’t be home. I didn’t have an excuse to why I was gone. And I don’t think he would like the fact that I was in a tree, or for the fact that I had disobeyed him and gone to see my parents.

I hurried to the door opening it quickly. He was sitting on the sofa, watching the door. I didn’t have time to gasp.

“I got a call today.” He said quietly. “Your father thinks I’m hurting you. And he doesn’t sound to happy…”

I kept quiet.

“He said you came over this morning… But I didn’t suspect you would be gone the whole afternoon… and evening.”

My breathing increased.

“I really hope you didn’t try anything rash.”

I took a step back, towards the door, towards my only mean of escape.

He stood up and walked towards me. “You will learn your lesson.”