Decision Day
"Oh, Fonzie, I can't go to him" she said between sobs. Fonzie looked down at her, all remains of the strong young woman he had known were gone, all that laid before him was a scare little girl.
"You won't," he said in a determine voice that made Joanie look up at him. Fonzie had a plan, he always did.
"What do you mean, I won't have to?" Joanie questioned her eyes never straying from his.
Fonzie took a deep breath and pulled up a chair next to Joanie. "Exactly what I said, you won't have to go back to him. At least not right now." He could see that he wasn't fully getting through to Joanie. "Listen shortcake, I'm gonna take you out of town for a couple of days, or until Chachi has cooled down and I've had enough time to seriously talk to him" he said in a warm voice.
Joanie gave him the smallest of smile and got up to leave. "Thank you," she said in a hush tone and then left.
On her way down Joanie seriously contemplated what Fonzie had proposed. She realized that she now found herself at a crossroad. The decision to stay or leave was one that would ultimately influence every aspect of her life. Joanie felt devastated, she wished that this were all some kind of horrendous nightmare, one that she would wake up from at any moment. But it wasn't! No, this is what destiny had decided to throw her way. Either she would crumble under the pressure, or she would lift herself up and try to make some sense out of the chaos that surrounded her.
The morning sun seeped in through the window of Joanie's room. She lay exhausted on her bed. Last night no sleep came to her, even after her late night chat with Fonzie. After having come back she stayed up the hold night mulling on what course of action to take.
After clearly thinking all night, she finally came to a decision. But first she needed to tell Fonz before anyone else. It wouldn't be fair to him to not tell him first, she owed him that much.
Joanie hopped out of bed grabbed a change of clothes and made her way to the bathroom before her parent awoke.
Fonzie stood in front of the mirror, checking out the dark bags under his eyes. He suspected that last night he wasn't the only who didn't sleep much. In fact, he was sure of it, shortcake had a lot of thinking to do. Especially after the bomb he had dropped on her. As much as he had hated doing so, he had no other choice.
He knew that women who found themselves in an abusive marriage had only two choices, stay or leave. Fonzie also knew that the sooner they took action, the better their chances were of walking away with as little harm as possible. Joanie had to make her choice soon; he just hoped that it's the right choice.
Fonzie was too lost in thought that he didn't notice when she came in. It wasn't until he saw her face on the bathroom mirror. Once he did notice, he immediately whirled around, ready to hear her decision.
"I've come to decision. I think that you're right, that I should leave for a little while until things cool down at least." Joanie could see that relief on Fonzie's face. He was about to come forward and hug her, but instead she put her arms up, apparently she had something else to say. "I can't do this alone Arthur." The use of his given name truly underlining the direness of the situation.
"I understand Joanie. I'll be there for you a hundred and ten percent, always" he smiled and finally gave her a warm hug. They both stayed like that for a while, knowing that the moment they let go things would never go back to normal, no matter how hard they tried.
TO BE CONTINUED
"Oh, Fonzie, I can't go to him" she said between sobs. Fonzie looked down at her, all remains of the strong young woman he had known were gone, all that laid before him was a scare little girl.
"You won't," he said in a determine voice that made Joanie look up at him. Fonzie had a plan, he always did.
"What do you mean, I won't have to?" Joanie questioned her eyes never straying from his.
Fonzie took a deep breath and pulled up a chair next to Joanie. "Exactly what I said, you won't have to go back to him. At least not right now." He could see that he wasn't fully getting through to Joanie. "Listen shortcake, I'm gonna take you out of town for a couple of days, or until Chachi has cooled down and I've had enough time to seriously talk to him" he said in a warm voice.
Joanie gave him the smallest of smile and got up to leave. "Thank you," she said in a hush tone and then left.
On her way down Joanie seriously contemplated what Fonzie had proposed. She realized that she now found herself at a crossroad. The decision to stay or leave was one that would ultimately influence every aspect of her life. Joanie felt devastated, she wished that this were all some kind of horrendous nightmare, one that she would wake up from at any moment. But it wasn't! No, this is what destiny had decided to throw her way. Either she would crumble under the pressure, or she would lift herself up and try to make some sense out of the chaos that surrounded her.
The morning sun seeped in through the window of Joanie's room. She lay exhausted on her bed. Last night no sleep came to her, even after her late night chat with Fonzie. After having come back she stayed up the hold night mulling on what course of action to take.
After clearly thinking all night, she finally came to a decision. But first she needed to tell Fonz before anyone else. It wouldn't be fair to him to not tell him first, she owed him that much.
Joanie hopped out of bed grabbed a change of clothes and made her way to the bathroom before her parent awoke.
Fonzie stood in front of the mirror, checking out the dark bags under his eyes. He suspected that last night he wasn't the only who didn't sleep much. In fact, he was sure of it, shortcake had a lot of thinking to do. Especially after the bomb he had dropped on her. As much as he had hated doing so, he had no other choice.
He knew that women who found themselves in an abusive marriage had only two choices, stay or leave. Fonzie also knew that the sooner they took action, the better their chances were of walking away with as little harm as possible. Joanie had to make her choice soon; he just hoped that it's the right choice.
Fonzie was too lost in thought that he didn't notice when she came in. It wasn't until he saw her face on the bathroom mirror. Once he did notice, he immediately whirled around, ready to hear her decision.
"I've come to decision. I think that you're right, that I should leave for a little while until things cool down at least." Joanie could see that relief on Fonzie's face. He was about to come forward and hug her, but instead she put her arms up, apparently she had something else to say. "I can't do this alone Arthur." The use of his given name truly underlining the direness of the situation.
"I understand Joanie. I'll be there for you a hundred and ten percent, always" he smiled and finally gave her a warm hug. They both stayed like that for a while, knowing that the moment they let go things would never go back to normal, no matter how hard they tried.
TO BE CONTINUED