It was nearly 6:30 am as Faith opened her eyes to the brightening sun that covered the room. She rolled over and noticed that Fred's side had not been slept in. She didn't know whether to be happy or worried that something might have had happened to him. She felt good knowing that he was not in the apartment at that exact moment. She got up out of bed and went to her dresser to pull her hair back. She looked in the mirror and saw the bruise that Fred had given her

"Oh my god!" she whispered. She put on her robe and went into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. She placed the hot cup on the table next to her and glanced at the newspaper. She always read the newspaper in order but this time she jumped to the classifieds. She was skimming through when she found an ad that caught her eye.

Recruiters wanted

25 yrs and older

HS Diploma OR GHD Plus 50 college credits

Full Time/Part Time

$40,000 – 60,000 a year

Full Benefit package including 401K

Training Provided

Call (212) 585-1100 for more details.

Faith tore out the ad and slipped it into her purse. Suddenly the door flew open to the apartment.

"Mommy, Mommy" Charlie exclaimed as he jumped into his mother's arms. In followed Emily, Fred's parents Mary and Jim and Fred.

"Hey look what I found downstairs as I was coming in" Fred said as he glanced at her.

"Hey Faith" Mary said as she hugged Faith hello. Faith had always been close to Fred's mom.

"Hi Ma" she smiled and she returned the hug. Mary quickly saw the shiner that was on her right cheek.

"Faith? Honey what happened?" She brushed her hand on the surface and Faith jerked away slightly. Fred and Faith shared a look. She wanted to tell her right there and then. That her only son had hit her. That he been drinking and he couldn't be reasoned with. That he took out all his anger on her. But she didn't want to scare the kids and she wasn't sure what he might do to her if she spoke up. Fred looked in horror and she began to speak.

"What this? Oh it's nothing really" She glanced at Fred.

"It doesn't look like anything Faith."

"It's fine really, It's actually really stupid I was getting things out of the cabinet and when I turned around I forgot I left it open and I banged right into it"

She looked up at Fred, Fred took a sigh with relief that she had lied to his parents. Mary put her hand on Faith's shoulder. "Well you should put some ice on that before it starts to swell sweetie, Jim did you see this?

Jim came over and looked at Faith then back at Fred. "Faith I would put ice on it right away".

"I will pop, Thanks."

Jim took another glance at Faith then back at Fred. He fixated his eyes back to Faith again. He could see that her eyes were watering up and it looked like she was going to cry at that moment. Jim was very fond of his daughter in law and admired her of how she keeps the family together. He also knew that his son has a history of alcoholism and knew enough that Fred had given her that shiner on her cheek. He was confused to why she was covering up for him. He walked over to Faith and placed his hand on her back.

"You're sure you're okay? He asked out of concern.

"Ya pop, I'm okay"

Charlie and Emily ran into the room..

"Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa Come look what I just made." Charlie was all wound up and jumping all over the place.

"Can I see it honey?" Faith asked

"You can't see it mommy because it is for you"

Faith smiled and hugged Charlie and gave him a kiss on his head "okay but I want to see it later mister you got it?

"Yah mommy you will"

Everyone followed the kids to their bedroom except Jim. He gently took her hand.

'Faith talk to me. I know Fred did this to you. You don't have to cover for him"

Faith took his hand.

"Pop-I appreciate it but it's fine. I hit the cabinet really" Faith was screaming inside she desperately wanted to tell Jim the truth. What he did last night but she couldn't for the first time she was afraid of her husband.

"Okay then, if you change your mind you know where to find me." Jim kissed the top of her head as he joined everyone in the kid's bedroom. Unaware that Fred was watching in the hallway and listening to every word Jim and Faith shared. Fred walked into the kitchen and pulled out a chair and sat in front of her. Faith looked up at him and then stared back to her paper.

"Do you believe I'm sorry? Because I am."

Faith glanced his way "Fred you hit me last night. You change that. Do you know what I was feeling inside? You were the one person I trusted in the world. I'd never thought you hurt me…ever. And look what you have done to me. Your parents even can tell that it wasn't the cabinet door."

"They didn't say that Faith"

"They don't have to, they sense it. Especially Jim. He knows that you hit me"

"You told him?"

"No he asked, but I denied it"

"Well I appreciate it that you didn't say anything to them, it means allot.

Faiths eyes grew wider

"Means allot? I didn't do it for you Fred. I did it for the kids"

"Look Faith, I'm sorry I hit you. You just make me so mad all the time and that's the only way I know how to deal with it. Every time you open your mouth you always say something stupid tat gets you into trouble. You just have to know your place around here."

Faith grew angrier but kept her voice low "My Place? Who do you think you are? You can't just bark orders and then I obey them"

"Shh keep your voice down"

"My voice down, are you afraid Fred that someone might here us. That someone would hear that you hit your wife and then threatened her to be quiet about it?"

"I'm warning you Faith, You don't want to go there"

"Don't you threaten me. I'm just getting started"

Fred grabbed both hands and held them firmly against the table.

"I suggest you keep your mouth shut unless you want another episode like last night I swear this time will be much worse"

Faith just looked at him in horror.

"Hey!-Look whose here" Fred quickly let go of Faith's hand and got up from the table.

"Daddy It's almost time for school can we go in the black truck?"

"We sure can sport"

Emily walked over to her mother to grab an apple that was on the table.

'Are you and dad fighting?" Emily asked.

"No baby we're fine, it's okay.

"Your sure" she questioned

"Absolutely Em, don't worry okay. Your gonna be late for school"

"Okay bye mom" she leaned over and kissed her on her cheek.

"Bye mommy" Charlie said as he hugged his mother before trailing to the front door. Emily grabbed her book bag and followed them to the front door. She looked back at her mom and saw her holding her hand over where the bruise was on her face. She was allot older than Charlie and was growing up so fast. She knew there was something certainly wrong between her mother and father. Emily followed Fred, Charlie, and Mary and Jim out and closed the door gently behind her. Faith reached over and got her purse and pulled out the classified she had cut out earlier. She slowly picked up the phone and started dialing the number.

"Yeah hi I'm calling about the ad here in the paper.."

I MONTH LATER

It was a cloudy and windy afternoon in New York City. It was her first day at the Police Academy. First day of a beginning to a new life. The taxi pulled up on the curb and dropped Faith off. She gave me the toll of the ride and stepped onto the curb. She was amazed over oh many recruits were signing up. She walked up to the door and pulled open the door. She looked at the letter they had sent her and it said she was to report to rm 451. She opened the door and quickly found a seat. The place was very crowded. It soon got quiet when the instructor walked in. He was a tall man, Skinny with black hair and glasses.

"Good morning everyone, Welcome to the Police Academy Training center. My name is Mr. Kanvan and I will be your instructor for the next 6 weeks. We will be going over things such as laws, and procedures. You will need to qualify at the range. We will teach you how to load and shoot. It will be a long 6 weeks. Each of you will be given a partner. Look to your right and shake hands to the person sitting next to you. Get to know them they will be your partner in training for the next 6 weeks".

"Hi I'm Faith Yokas" Faith said as she held her hand and shook her partner's hand.

"Hey, Maurice Boscorelli but you can call me Bosco"