I let out a small groan everything hurt. I opened my eyes slowly to find I was yet again waking up on the kitchen floor, the cold hard tiles harshly supporting my exhausted body. This is what my life had turned into. The only time when I got sleep was when I was unable to stand the pain any longer and fell into unconsciousness.

I just lay on the kitchen floor resting; taking stock of the new injuries I had acquired with the events of last night flashing thought my mind. Great the kettle again, there goes my morning coffee I think as I remember Warren grabbing it and launching it at me. I move my hand unconsciously up to my head to touch the spot were it had connected with my head. Flinching as I pulled my hand away sharply and saw that it was covered in partly dried blood.

Gritting my teeth I pushed my arms underneath me and managed to sit up. I closed my eyes trying to stop the room spinning around me. When the feeling finally settled I opened my eyes again and this time able to take in the state of the kitchen. The table was over turned with the chairs lying like bowling pins around it and everything that was on top of the surfaces was now scattered over the floor some of it covered in blood and the events of last night flashed through my mind. Then I realised I had no idea what the time was and glanced nervously at the clock its time showing 5:07. I sighed in relief realising I had a couple of hours until I would have to face Nita and Warren. Knowing I had to get the kitchen cleaned so that Nita would never see it or me in that state I grabbed on to the kitchen counter and pulled my aching body into action.

I stood in the shower; the warm water burning and soothing my body. I watched the red water run down my body then swirl into drain. I always tried not to look at the angry bruises that were scattered over me but I had to examine my ribs this morning. In his fury warren had landed a couple of powerful strikes there and I was pretty sure had had broken at least one, if not more of my ribs. Another more memorable blow was a kick just inside my left hip. The bruise had spread from my belly button across my hip and onto my side. With the additional bruise across my arms and thighs I look like a bunching bag, which I didn't want to admit I actually was.

A couple of hours later and I was cooking breakfast after making the kitchen spotless and showering and pulling on the right shaped clothes to cover my bruises. I just hoped I could hide the gash just behind my hair line where the kettle had hit me. It was open and kept bleeding on and of. I knew it really need stitches but how the hell was I going to explain it with out drawing even more suspicion from Adam. I couldn't so I would hope that I would stay hidden. I was stood over the frying pan when Nita troughed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Morning mum," I smiled my baby was never one for mornings.

"Morning Darling," I replied setting a plate of scrambled eggs down in front of her and turned to plate the other half up for Warren.

"What's the occasion?" Nita asked gesturing to her plate. Kirsty shifted nervously under her daughter's gaze.

"I, I was up early and had some extra time on my hands but now I've got to go and for once I might not me late," I gave my daughter a smile and kissed her forehead then headed upstairs to give Warren his breakfast.

"Morning, I brought you some breakfast." I said as confidently as I could manage placing the plate on his bedside table.

"I've got to get to work now, I'll be home for tea." I bent over and kissed his forehead but he grabbed my top stopping me from getting up.

"Make sure your on time." He whispered angrily in to my face his fowl breathe clinging to my face.

I raced out of the front door not because I was late but because I wanted to get away. The cold January air hit my body. I shivered, causing jolts of pain to flow though my body. At the end of the road I stopped and took a deep breath ignoring the pain racing long my ribs. The air was so refreshing and I felt free. It was an amazing feeling and I stood for a minuet savouring it.

I arrived at work on time thank god; I really didn't want to be in Tess's back book today. I didn't think I could handle it. I knew I look awful and had to shake of a couple of worried colleagues before I even made it to the staff room. I tried my hardest to stay on task but everything seemed too much. My head had been bleeding on and off and I had given up on trying to hid it and just let the blood seep into my hair. Luckily nobody had noticed. I was so tiered and my mind kept wandering back to the day when I had collapsed in the shower. I cursed my self for being so stupid but the moments which kept replaying were when Adam sat with me in the on-call room waiting for me to fall asleep and promising not to leave until I did so. I didn't realise how safe I could feel until I was there with him holding my hand. He was being so kind to me and after all that I had done I could barely believe it. I had tricked him into prescribing drugs which I had taken. He could have lost his job because of this, because of me and still he was being kind to me.

I'd been getting worried glances all day and not just from Adam. This was not new behaviour for Adam but I knew today I looked a lot worse than normal but the amount of times I caught Adam looking at me in concern was seriously getting on my nerves. I knew if he watched me any longer he would see the long pauses I was taking trying to clear my head or the blood seeping though my hair. My shift couldn't go fast enough and it had barely begun.

Once again my head was spinning and everything blurred over. I was getting more and more frustrated with myself as I once again tried to clear my head and do my job. I had paused in reception and held onto the counter to keep my balance. I was swaying slightly when Jay rushed over to me putting his arm around my waist to steady me.

"That's it. I want to know what's wrong." Jay looked down at me sternly searching my eyes for an answer.

"I'm fine," I say twisting in his arms to look away, "honestly."

"No Kirsty, you not," he gently pulled me back around so he could look into my eyes again, "please let me in."

"Uurrmmm, I've just got a bit of a headache, it's nothing really. I'm just going to take two minuets," I replied quickly moving out of his grasp and into the staff room but I'd moved too fast to get to the staffroom and after quickly shut the door behind me I half sat half fell onto the floor resting my back against the door, my head flopping to one side, too heavy for me to hold up any longer. That's when I realised my mistake,

"Kirsty," Adam rushed to my side. "Can you hear me?"

I nodded slowly, "I'm just tiered; I just want to sleep."

"Oh Kirsty," he pulled me into a hug and I immediately felt safe in his arms. I relaxed into the hug letting my head resting on his chest and breathing in his scent.

"Come with me." with out hesitating I let Adam lift me up and lead me to the on-call room.

"I can't, I'm meant to be working." I say as I try lousily to make my way to cubicles. Adam didn't even bother to reply; he just opened the door and guided me inside. I couldn't believe it Adam was looking after me again. I was lying down my aching head resting on the soft pillow with Adam's warm and comforting hand in mine. We were in the same position we had been just a week ago. I felt safe I could sleep while Adam was here. He's the only one who I could sleep around. I was just about to drift off although I kept opening my eyes to make sure I was actually there and it wasn't a dream when I remembered Warren.

"Adam," I mumbled.

"Kirsty, I'm not going anywhere," he spoke softly.

"I can't be late," was all I managed to say before exhaustion took over.