Courtney awoke to the fresh, throbbing bruise on her face. She touched her face, remembering what happened the night before. Courtney felt like she could sob, but no tears could form, as she recognized that all she did was cry these days. Remembering someone was lying next to her, she gently tried to remove the arm around that was wrapped around her waist. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked in a serene voice, not yet moving his arm.

"I'm just… going to the bathroom, honey." She replied nervously, as he relaxed a little. Courtney made her way into the bathroom, closing the unlocked door behind her. She wasn't allowed to lock the door. Courtney gripped the edges of the sink, gazing at herself in the mirror, unable to look away at the mess of a person that was before her.

"Get it together, Courtney! Stop being so weak! This isn't you!" She stood there glaring into the mirror, loudly whispering to herself. For a minute, she stopped and rubbed the cheek with the bruise on it. All of a sudden her legs felt like limp noodles, incapable of standing, she fell to her knees. This isn't the way her life was supposed to turn out, this wasn't the plan. She grabbed the sink to help her back up. "Hey, woman up. This is happening. You're doing this today. There is absolutely no turning back now."

FLASHBACK:

"Justin, just leave me alone! I'm not in the mood, you prick!" Courtney yelled, her voice cracking. He backhanded her as hard as he could, and for what? Not wanting to have sex with him? She wanted as little physical activity from him as possible. "I give you everything, and this is how you repay me!" He yelled back, she was on the floor, holding her face, backing up from him.

"You obviously don't give me anything I want, or I wouldn't be here with you." She said catching her breath; she didn't have any more energy to yell back at him again tonight.

She sighed; as she was beginning to walk out, Justin walked in. He backed her up against the bathroom wall and smiled at her, tauntingly. She was deathly afraid of him. She had never been afraid of anyone else in her entire life, but with him, it was different. Being with him was the most unbearable thing she's ever done and she'd fought off many scary people in her time. Perverts who tried to get with her, Goth girls who tried fighting her, her parents. She wasn't scared. She'd gladly accept any challenge that came her way… until she met Justin.

"Hey, baby, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean it, Court. You know that I love you, right?" He simpered at her.

"Yes."

"Say you love me like we both know you do." He raised his voice a bit.

"I... love you." She lied.

"Good girl," He kissed her on the forehead, playing with her hair. "Ah, I wish I could say home with you. Unfortunately, it's not possible. I've got to go to work," he frowned at her lack of emotion.

He sighed, still playing with her hair, "So ungrateful..." Justin let go of her, leaving the bathroom to get ready. He managed to piss off Courtney once more as he was on his way out, giving her a list of chores, "…and lastly, try to make dinner tonight without burning down my house, if it's at all possible," he left, slamming the door behind him.

Still in the bathroom, there was one thing Courtney had to do before she packed her things. Everything in Justin's medicine cabinet was organized, starting with alphabetical, down to size and shape of the bottles. She felt like it was a perfect opportunity to mess up everything in sight. Reaching at anything and everything she could, nothing was left untouched. After she was finished, she was breathing hard, her face was red, and her hair was messy. The one thing she had missed was his toothbrush, though. She grabbed it and stared to do her final chore she would ever do for this bastard. Courtney got on her hands and knees and cleaned the lavatory with his toothbrush. It was minor, considering. She felt better afterwards, very pleased with what she had just done.

Okay! Now's the time! She thought. She got out a phone that she'd been hiding for the past couple of months. She bought the cheap pre-paid cell-phone in secret while they were out and about one evening. She didn't know whom to call, since Justin shut her family and friends out of her life. Not to mention, the most important person of all. Duncan. Oh, how she yearned to find him again. She missed everything there was about him. His crooked smile, the look he gave her that meant how much he loved and cared for her. Courtney's eyes grew wistful as she thought about Duncan. Then there she was… starting to remember everything that happened that melancholy night…

FLASHBACK:

Justin parked at the very beginning of the street, he told Courtney that she was to get out and walk. She stepped out of her car, "Okay, make this quick, we have a plane to catch." Justin said sourly.

She walked the walk of shame up to his apartment door. He answered with a goofy look on his face that Courtney loved.

"Hey, Duncan… can I talk to you for a minute?" He nodded and let her in. She didn't want to do this… she did not want to do this, she was going to miss him most. But she had to do it, if she wanted to insure his safety.

"Hey, Princess. What's up?" He asked, rubbing his green Mohawk.

Oh, I can't do this! She thought.

"Duncan… I-I'm leaving Canada." She choked out, averting his eyes.

"Oh, are you going alone, because I cou-" She cut him off.

"Duncan. It's over. I'm sorry." She could tears coming on, but she couldn't present any, because then he'd know something was wrong with his Princess.

"W-what? I don't… understand… I thought… Courtney, I love you." He couldn't cry either; it'd ruin his 'image', even though Courtney knew he was nothing but a softie on the inside.

"Duncan, I have to go. I'll always love you… in a way. I can't be stuck here for the rest of my life, you know." She lied; she'd always be in love with him, no matter what, after all that they'd been through.

"Right then," He starting nodding, avoiding Courtney's eyes this time. "I'll just uh… yeah,"

He then turned his back on her and headed straight for front door, and left her standing there both hurt, and dumbfounded.

END OF FLASHBACK:

By this time, she was crying, harder then she had when it actually happened. Courtney knew she needed to stop, but after everything she's been through, it was rather difficult for her. She had to pull her act together, though. Her hands began to tremble; she gripped the cell phone tightly with both hands. She sat there and stirred for a few minutes, pondering. Who could she call? All she had time to do anymore was to memorize the numbers of her loved ones. She knew she could count on one in particular, but would they want anything to do with Courtney after all this time? Would they even have the same number as before? All of these questions swirling around in her head. It was time, and she knew it, if she didn't bring herself to call someone now, Courtney knew she wouldn't be able to do it at all. She dialed the number. After a few rings, they finally picked up.

"Hello?"She answered. Courtney missed the sound of her voice.

"Bridgette? It's… Courtney."

"Courtney? What do you want?" She asked in an annoyed tone, undoubtedly mad at her for not hearing from her for this long, and the avoiding phone calls.

"Bridgette, I need your help."

"Look, if all you're only wanting some-" Courtney cut her off.

"No! No, Bridge, I've missed you… I've missed everyone. It's really good to hear your voice. It's been too long… and it's my entire fault."

"Tell me what happened. I believe I've earned that right." She insisted.

"You're right; you do… hear me out, but don't make any assumptions before I finish, because I honestly just want you to listen to my side, and understand what I've been through,"

"Of course," said Bridgette, sounding worried.

"It's a long story, you got time?"

Courtney explained to Bridgette carefully, while getting all of her stuff together. She felt both anxious, and excited. It was like talking on the phone with Bridgette was just like any other day; it gave her a jolt of energy. It was exactly what she needed.

"Court… I had no idea. I'm… I'm so sorry." It sounded like she was going to cry. "What can I do?"

"No, don't apologize. It was nowhere near your fault. I'll explain it a little bit better later, okay? Right now, I'm getting what little I have left, and coming to Ottawa!" Courtney tried to sound courageous, her voice cracking didn't help. "All I need is for you to pick me up from the airport when I arrive."

"That won't be a problem at all! Just as long as you get down here safely. We all missed you, Courtney. Hurry, we have so much to catch up on!" Courtney could hear her smile through the phone.

"Thanks, Bridge. I knew I could count on you."

Click.

Before leaving, Courtney called her and Justin's bank account to transfer all of the existing money into a new account. Since they had joint banking accounts, it wasn't an issue. She opened the front door, but stopped in her tracks. Courtney turned to look around at the hellhole she was made to live in for the past year and a half. First, she scoffed, then she spit on the hardwood floor of the apartment loft. She set off, making a promise to herself that she'll never end up like that again. Courtney finally made it to the bus stop and out of the frigid, wintry weather. The Charter Bus picked her up, and soon she was on her way to the airport.

It was a pretty good ways away 'till she got to her destination. When she did get there she bought a plane ticket, found her seat, sat down and rested silently, waiting for the plane to take off and away from her misery.

Courtney hadn't noticed that she sitting next to a good looking, younger man, who looked to have been in his twenties. He looked over at her, extended out his hand and smiled.