The bell rang for Sabrina’s first morning class. She was tardy again. Her parents were always too busy to notice her. It seemed as if she was invisible and they didn’t care what she did. Only one person ever really cared and he had moved away when they were in Jr. high school.

“This is my last year,” she thought. “If I can just make it through English with a “B” I’ll be happy.

Sabrina tried to slip into Spanish class quietly so she wouldn’t be noticed, however Mr. Bagget caught her eye and gave her a disgruntled look. As she edged into her seat a fresh face gained her attention. Who was this new guy? He looked so familiar. She had the feeling they had met before but she just couldn’t put her finger on where she knew him from. This was going to mystify her all day.

The day seemed to pass on slowly, the clock hands seemed to barely move. She had so much on her mind she barely seemed present in class. Finally the bell rang for lunch and she was free of the droning of the lectures of the morning. The afternoon should just sail by.

She walked into the cafeteria thinking about the morning and the new guy in her Spanish class. She could not get him off of her mind. Aaron, her boyfriend found her sitting at a table playing with her food and just staring into space thinking.

“A penny for your thoughts.” He said as he smiled at her lovingly.

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking about a few things.” She said.

“I noticed. It wouldn’t have been me would it?” he said jokingly.

“No, there is someone new in Spanish and I know I have met him somewhere but I am not sure where.”

“Should I feel threatened? Was he an old boyfriend? Is he better looking than me?” The jealousy was beginning to show through and Sabrina was not sure what to make of it. This was a side of Aaron that she had not seen before.

“Aaron, all I said was he looked familiar. There is no need to be jealous of him.”

Aaron grabbed her by the arm so tight she could feel his grip all the way to the bone it seemed. “We need to talk NOW!” he spatted through gritted teeth.

“Aaron you’re hurting me, let go of me. “ Tears stung her eyes as she tried not to cry. He slammed her up against the outer wall of the cafeteria and began screaming at her and accusing her of cheating with the new guy. Sabrina was stunned at his actions and just wanted to crawl under a rock for the embarrassment he was causing. “You are making a scene can we please talk about this later? After school?”

“Fine, but this conversation is not done and you better not let me catch you talking to him at all the rest of the day. Is that clear?” he said angrily.

Aaron released the grip on her arm and she slowly slid away from the wall and walked toward the bathroom to wash her face. She could not go to class with puffy eyes. She walked to her locker and pulled her sweater from the hook just inside the door. She could not dare let anyone see the purplish bruise beginning to form on her upper arm.

As she walked into history class the new guy was sitting right next to the only seat left in the class.
“Are you okay?” he asked sounding very concerned for her safety.

“I’m okay thanks. Why do you ask?”

“I saw your boyfriend grab your arm at lunch and then in the hall I saw him get into your face.”

“Oh that, he was just concerned I might be upset about something and was trying to find out who had me so upset.” Sabrina hoped she was convincing enough for the barrage of questions to cease. She wasn’t sure how she could keep answering them without crying.

“I am Anthony. I used to go to school here a long time ago. You look like someone I used to know back when I lived here before.”

Sabrina stammered for a minute then looked at him with the most astonished look on her face and told him, “I am Sabrina. Do you remember me? We went out in jr. high school.”

Anthony looked at her and his mouth seemed to drop to the floor. “It can’t be Sabrina. She had freckles and was a carrot top. She was too silly.”

“People grow up, and learn how to deal with what life throws at them no matter the circumstances. Call me tonight, we can talk.” She passed her number to him on a small torn piece of paper and then turned her attention to the lecture.

After school Aaron caught up with her. “You going to work tonight?”

“I don’t know I have to study for a history test for tomorrow. Why?”

“I saw you talking to the new guy this afternoon.” Aaron’s temper began to grow hotter as the conversation went on. Then out of no where he slapped her across the face. “You’re lying to me! You are going to go see him tonight.”

He hit her again this time with his fist in the right eye. The tears began to well up in her eyes and she tried hard to not let them slide down her cheeks. He finally released her and she walked the rest of the way home with only the slip of a tear here and there. She knew if she began crying it wouldn’t stop.

The phone rang about seven that night. She picked It up and it was Anthony.

“Hi I didn’t think you would call me tonight.” She said

“Sabrina,” he started. “I still love you even after all these years. No one will ever be you or have the sense of humor and thoughtfulness you have. I missed you.”

“Anthony, we can’t see each other. We have grown up and gone different ways. We can’t just pick up where we left off. It’s not that easy. You left, you moved away.”

“He hit you again didn’t he?” Anthony said calmly. “Sabrina I love you and I would never raise a hand to you in any way, shape or form. You deserver better than that jerk.”

The tears began to flow like a flooded river. She knew he was right. She knew she didn’t deserver to be hit. “Hey, I am going to break up with Aaron tomorrow. I don’t know how yet but I am not going to be hit anymore.”

Their conversation got a lot less stressful and she began to relax just talking with him. She didn’t realize just how much she really missed him. How her life was not complete without him. He was her soul mate she thought.

The next morning after listening to the television while getting ready for school, she heard a commercial about domestic violence. She listened closely and decided that she needed to let the school know for once she was going to be late. She was going to get her life back. She decided to go to the police about Aaron’s abuse and get a protective order. She had decided to take back control of her life and be the strong young woman she once was.

When she arrived at school later that morning she saw Aaron being arrested for battery and assault. Just then she spotted Anthony and he slowly walked toward her. “Hey, what’s Aaron being arrested for?” Then he turned and saw the purple and blue bruise on her cheek and swollen eye beneath her sunglasses. Anthony took Sabrina in his arms and just held her without a word being spoken.

“I know I said we could not pick up where we left off years ago, but could we possibly start over?” Sabrina said as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

“I moved back here because of you. I am living with my grandparents. Of course we can start over. You were meant for me and vice versa. I love you forever. No one is ever going to hurt you ever again. I promise.” With that said Anthony took her hand in his and walked her to class. Sabrina finally felt she would never have to endure another’s fist ever again. She was finally complete.