I ducked to avoid the fist swinging toward my face. I didn't move fast enough and careened backward as his hand contacted my jawbone. I couldn't believe it was happening again. So many times I had convinced myself to leave him but had never gone through with it. I was convinced that it would all work out. Maybe if I acted different or did something else to try and please him, maybe then he would love me. I tried so many different things. I knew he was having an affair but I tried to ignore it. It worked for a while but one night I couldn't stand it anymore and I blew up at him. Screaming to him about the letter he sent me by mistake. That night he gave me a black eye and six deep cuts across my back…so much for communication. Thankfully Colonel Potter believed me when I explained away my black eye by telling him I fell. Come to think of it, I doubt very much that he believed me but at least he let the matter drop. I toughed it out for two more visits in Seoul, but the last time I was with him I told him I wanted a divorce. That's when he hit me…again. After the first blow I tried desperately to make my way to the door. I was unsuccessful. I hate thinking about it but in short, the more I struggled the more he hit me. He was screaming at me telling me that I was his wife and if I thought I could get out of that I was damn wrong. After a few minutes he forced me onto the bed of our hotel room. Again I'll spare you the details. Anyway he left late that night and I locked the door and slid a table in front of it. I spent the night curled up in a ball in the middle of the floor, too scared to move. The next morning I was able to put enough makeup on to hide the bruises on my face and I wore a long sleeved shirt although it was getting rather warm. Everything went fine for a few days and then I received some uncomfortable news. Colonel Potter called me to my office.
"Ah Margaret, how are you?" I looked at him suspiciously. I could tell there was something he didn't want to tell me. "Listen Margaret," he paused and nervously cleared his throat. "You're due for a physical…" My head started spinning.
"Oh God, this can't be happening!" I thought. I still had several bruises and a few cuts, some of which were slightly infected making them look worse than they really were. I tried to pay attention as Colonel Potter continued speaking.
"You may choose any of the doctors to do this, although as I am going to Tokyo tonight it will not be me." Damn! Of course it had to be one of the perverts or the pompous idiot. "Inform me of you decision before I leave tonight, please Major." Oh God, I was going to be sick. I was going to throw up right there in the middle of his office. Later that evening I informed Potter that Pierce would do the physical. He looked surprised, shocked really. But I didn't feel like explaining my decision to Him. There was no way I would have let Charles see any more of me that necessary. He was professional yes, but he was incredible pompous and I couldn't stand him! I would have asked BJ to do it. For all of his faults he was the best behaved of the three. He could even be sweet at times. Especially when his wife was concerned; this is why he asked not to be the one to do it. I can't really understand his logic there, but oh well. So that left me with Hawkeye Pierce. God, how I loathed the idea of almost completely stripping in front of him. Especially because I knew there was no way he would let my cuts and bruises go unnoticed. He said we could do the exam in the lab. "That's fine with me." I said, trying to avoid eye contact, knowing that he had his huge trademark smile pasted on his face.
I walked into the lab the next morning dreading the following scene. He made a few stupid jokes which I can't remember anymore. To get to the point, eventually he asked me to remove my clothing. He was smiling pathetically as he said it. The perverted jerk was thoroughly enjoying my discomfort. I unbuckled my belt and slid my pants off. He frowned as he saw the bruises.
"Just wait." I thought. The bruises on my legs were nothing compared to my back and chest. I sighed and pulled off my shirt. Pierce gasped sharply as he looked at my scarred back. The silence was excruciating. I avoided eye contact, praying that he would say something as I sat down on a low metal table. I glanced up at him briefly to read his expression. He was smiling! It was a sad smile and I couldn't understand it. Why would he smile at something like this? I looked at him again and his smile had changed into a more forced grin.
"Well Hot Lips, let's get this examination over with." I was shocked! He wasn't going to say anything! Relief flooded over me. After the exam he applied something to my cuts and told me to keep them clean. Then he walked out, leaving me sitting on the table with my mouth hanging open.