Hazel sat on the park bench, crying. She didn't care that it was twelve-thirty at night, or that she was cold with only a sundress on.
She slowly lifted the sundress up slightly. Wincing, she touched the mark there, on her knee.
She would never forget the moment when the Frank that she married three years ago today turned into a temporary monster.
Raging and yelling, Frank lashed out. Repeatedly.
One by one, Hazel carefully touched all her scars and bruises. She pretended it was Frank, helping her, healing her.
Oh, sure, afterward, when the red haze over his eyes lifted, he was sorry. Hazel knew he was sorry, and he would bend and pick her up off the floor, give her a bath, tuck her into bed kissing her forehead, saying I'm sorry, I love you, please forgive me, and crying. Hazel's Frank was crying.
Frank meant it and it broke her heart.
Tonight, she had asked playfully whether he was going to buy her a diamond ring.
It was a joke.
But Frank had started yelling at her, how money was tight and he couldn't always be Prince Charming. The monster came out. She hated that monster. She loved Frank.
Hazel just couldn't take it anymore.
"Why?" she screamed into the night. "Why my Frank?" Hazel sobbed.
The darkness didn't answer.
But it gave a gift: Leo came walking, properly dressed for February.
"Hey," Leo said softly, coming to sit next to her. "You okay?"
Hazel rubbed her eyes and forced out a smile. "Yeah," she said.
Leo pulled off his jacket and scarf, wrapping them around her.
"No, you're not."
Hazel protested weakly. "You'll be cold," she said, taking off the scarf.
"Naw, I'm fine," he said. Leo lit a flame the size of a candle over his palm.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's all gonna be okay," Leo soothed as Hazel burst into fresh tears.
Leo pulled Hazel onto his lap, rocking her. Hazel closed her eyes. She was content to be here, for now. The monster couldn't get her here.