Tears dripped down her cheeks. She was alone. Finally, sadly, happily alone.

Her husband was searching for her. She prayed that he would not find her. She had managed to escape her home while he searched for weapons to use against her. When he stomped towards the kitchen, dripping angry sweat and hurling abuse, she thought of the knives.

She didn't remember how she got between her home and the doorway. All she knew was that she was safe, for the time being.

Where next? She had no family. Her friends were his friends or the wives of his friends. She was lost.

A woman approached her. Kindly she asked, "do you need help? Are you lost?". The young girl could not answer. The woman gently took her arm and said, "come with me, I live just here", gesturing towards a nearby doorway.

"I'll make some tea and we'll talk.". The girl allowed herself to be led. She had no choice.

The tea loosened her tongue. She told her story. The woman said she was welcome to stay, and then left her alone with her thoughts.

She was finally alone. Happily.