-Joanne-
I groaned and tried to move my aching body while I lay on the cold hard floor. Struggling to open my eyes. Grabbing the doorpost, fearing I might fall when my legs wouldn’t stop trembling as I scampered up.
I straightened myself as best as possible and took a deep breath. Or at least I tried, whimpers left me, feeling the bruises on my ribs. I lifted my shirt, and tears brimmed my eyes. My skin painted by purple bruises, covering my ribs and hips.
“Anxiety attacks, my ass,” I sighed in defeat. I had shown my therapist these bruises many times before, but she still didn’t believe me there was something else going on. She believed I did this to myself, but how?
Limping to the shower, needing the hot water to soothe my body. Pulling my lips behind my teeth to stop myself from crying, I undressed, stepped under the scorching hot shower, and sighed.