The interview had been over for some time and now they were sitting at a little pizza place. Their plates were empty but they were still talking. They were the only customers in there which suited her just fine. He was a really nice man to be around and really easy to talk to. She enjoyed being around him.

Her phone buzzed. She read the text and put on a little smile.

"Good news?" He asked.
"Just Rudy telling me that I have the rest of the day off and don't need to come back after this lunch break," she answered.

She sent Rudy a silent "thank you" in her mind. He was a good man, always looking out for his co-workers no matter how much he joked with them. She knew he had given her the day off so she could hang out with Roman. Rudy was deep inside a romantic and a sucker for a good love story shared at the office.

"Wanna go for a walk down at the beach then?" Roman asked.
"Sure," she answered.

They got up and left the pizza place.

Not many people were at the beach that day although the weather was good. It was getting hot and she took of her cardigan. He noticed the bruise on the back of her shoulder. He wondered how big it was. He could only see the part sticking out of her top but he could see it went further down her back.

"What's that?" He asked, gently touching the bruise.

She cringed in pain and he quickly removed his hand.

"I fell in the shower this morning," she answered.

He stopped and took her hand.

"Stop it, just stop it. I told you, don't make up any excuses for him," he said.
"I'm not making up..." she started but he cut her off before she could finish her sentence.
"Seriously, stop it! Do you even believe your own lies?" He was starting to get a bit mad.
"It's none of your business," she said and pulled her hand away from his.

She turned around and started walking away from him. He caught up with her quickly and stopped her.

"I know it's none of my business but I wanna make it my business. You don't wanna leave him, that's fine, but don't lie to me," he said.

She looked into his eyes and her tears suddenly started flowing.

"I hate my life!" She suddenly screamed and sat down in the sand.

He sat down beside her, put an arm around her and pulled her in. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let him hold her while she cried. Little by little her tears dried out and they just sat for a while like that, looking out on the water.

"He's an asshole," she suddenly said.
"He sure is," he agreed with her.

She sighed.

"Why don't you leave him?" He asked.
"I don't know. Out of fear, I guess," she said.
"You're afraid he'll come after you if you leave?" He asked.
"That too but I'm also afraid of being alone," she answered.
"So you'll rather stay with him than being on your own?" He asked.
"I don't know. Can we please not talk about it anymore?" She pleaded.

He gave her shoulder a little squeeze.

"At least let me see that bruise," he said.
"Do you have to?" She asked and sighed.
"No, I don't have to but I want to. And I want you to know that you can trust me and that I'm here for you if you need me," he answered.

She pulled out of his arm and turned her back against him. He gently pulled up the top and looked at her back. Half of her back was a giant bruise.

"Shit, he was pissed last night," he said in shock.
"Yeah, he didn't like that you tried to stand up for me," she said.
"What did he do?" He asked.
"Kicking, punching, yelling. I'm not even sure anymore. I just curled up against the wall while he attacked my back," she answered.
"I'm sorry..." he started but she cut him off.
"Enough of that. Let's not ruin this beautiful day," she said and stood up.

He got up as well and they continued walking down the beach. He still wanted to ask her more questions, get her to open up more, but he knew he had to let things evolve in her pace so he changed the subject.

"Do you think you can take the rest of the week off?" He asked.
"Maybe. Why?" She asked.
"We're in town for the rest of the week and I'd like for you to come to the arena with me tomorrow, meet some of the others, watch our show tomorrow night. That is, if you can get away from home," he answered.
"Getting away is not the problem. He's not a jealous type, just a violent type," she said.
"So you wanna come?" He asked.
"Sure. Let me just call my work and see if I can take some days off. Shouldn't be a problem though," she answered.

She stepped away from him to call. He watched her from the distance while waiting. She sure was pretty and such a sweet woman. She deserved way better than being with that asshole. She walked back to him with a smile on her face.

"No problem at all," she said.
"Cool. What are you gonna tell him?" He asked.
"That I'm at work during the day and that I have to visit my parents tomorrow night. He never wanna come along to their place anyway," she answered.
"Sneaky, sneaky," he said and smiled.

She smiled back and they continued down the beach.