"It's Chris Andrews. He is my boyfriend and he is an abusive one." Michelle said.

"OK. Got it. Thank you for your assistance." The police detective closes his notebook and left the room.

"Hey, you alright?" I asked.

"I'm alright. You should go get some rest." Michelle said.

"Nah. I will stay." I said.

The detective came back to the room.

"Ms. Clark? Are you sure that the one who attacked you is Chris Andrews?" The detective asked.

That's strange.

"Yes. What's the problem?" Michelle responded.

"We couldn't find that name. We checked with our internal systems and County systems and also California DMV but we found nothing."

"What... I've been with him for nearly 6 years... and I don't even know his real name. Great."

"Do you have anything that haves his real name, like a letter or bank statements?"

"No. He never lets me touch these stuff."

"Oh, I see. Thanks for the info."

"He never lets me touch these... and now I know why."

======================================

Michelle

5 YEARS AGO

"Chris? I'm back. I got your mail from the mailbox." I said when I was opening the apartment door.

"You got my mail?" Chris asked.

"Yes. What's the problem?"

Chris ran towards me and pushed me against the wall.

"Don't you dare messing with my mail."

"Yes..."

"Put them down. Good girl."

Chris released me.

Well, I haven't touched the mailbox again, and he locked the mailbox, and only he can open it.

======================================

A WEEK LATER

"Ms. Clark, you can go home after I take care of the paperwork. Please stay home and rest for at least 2 weeks before you return to work. Refrain from doing exercises or anything that involves intensive physical activities." The doctor said.

"Thanks, Dr. Blake," Michelle said.

Michelle's getting discharged today, and she will go back to her house.

Buck's driving her home on his Jeep.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

"I have an extra bed available if you're interested," I said before Michelle leaves Buck's Jeep.

"Thanks, Jack. I think I'll manage." Michelle said.

"Alright, call us if you need help."

"Ok. Bye Jack and Buck.'

"Bye."

Jackie

Are you sure that you'll be fine if Michelle is staying at your place? 12:10

Jacky

Yeah 12:10

I'm just trying my best to help. 09:10

We're a family, right? 09:10

Right. 12:10

======================================

Michelle

I pressed on the doorbell, and Chris opened the door.

"Hey." He said, then he hugged me.

I froze. I can't stop myself from thinking about what happened last week.

That's enough.

I gave him a hard push. He fell to the ground. And I ran away as far as I could.

"Hello? Jack spea......"

"Jack? Can you drive me to your place? I can't. I can't. I..."

"Calm down. I'm telling Buck to return. Are you on the run?"

"Yes"

"Be careful."

======================================

Jackie

It seems that I (and also Jacky) will have a new roommate soon.

"Buck? We have to pick up Michelle again, she resisted his boyfriend and is now on the run," I said.

"Ok."

Buck pulled up in front of Michelle's apartment and I opened the door.

"Michelle! Here! Over here!" I waved towards Michelle.

Michelle boarded the car.

"Alright. Where to? " Buck asked.

"My home," I said.

20:00

JACKY'S HOUSE

"Michelle... erm... I'm sorry. But the air con isn't working in your room. And I forget that I threw out the mattress..." I said.

"It's alright. Thanks for giving me somewhere to stay." Michelle said.

23:00

Jacky

I'm not sure what had my ex-roommate shoved into the vents but it's cleaned. But the bed frame...

"The aircon is cleaned, but there's still no mattress," I said.

Michelle didn't say anything, and grabbed towels and a blanket, and laid them on the sofa. She pulled off her top and slept on the sofa.

"Um... you can sleep on my bed if you want to," I said.

"It's alright. I prefer the sofa anyway." Michelle said. "Good night."

"Alright. Goodnight." I said.

MIDNIGHT

I woke up and answered the call of nature. When I was returning to my room, I saw Michelle sleeping with her blanket on the side of the sofa.

And she left the lights on. I wonder how she can still fall asleep with a lamp shining above her head.

I covered Michelle with the blanket, and saw scars on her abdomen, somewhere on her (visible) obliques, and one on her left side shoulder.

Is that... what Chris has done? Alright, I am too tired to figure out how these got on her.

"It's warm in here but you can't sleep nearly half-naked without something covering you," I said when I was covering her with her blanket.

THE NEXT DAY

I woke up early to cook breakfast.

Michelle woke up.

"Good morning, I made you breakfast," I said.

"Thanks. I used to be the one who made breakfast." Michelle said.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

We are eating our breakfast.

"Hey... erm... your scars on your shoulders..." I said.

"Oh, you mean the scars here and here? It's from Chris. To be honest I'd rather get them from my work." Michelle said.

"Oh. Erm... I'm sorry."

"Nah it's alright. Eventually, I will get scars from work." Michelle said. "Oh my phone rang"

"Hello? Yes, it's Michelle."

"Oh, so he's moving out? Like he's gone?"

"Ok. Got it. I will clear the apartment today.'

"Yes. Ok. Thanks. Goodbye."

"Jack, Chris's landlord called. He left LA and I will have to clear his flat today."

"Alright, let's get you a new mattress and beddings too."

MICHELLE'S APARTMENT

Michelle opened the door. We entered the apartment.

"As empty as always. Jack? Put down the boxes.... here." Michelle said.

Everything is gone. Not sure about the rooms though.

Michelle walked into the bedroom while I place down the cardboard box.

"Alright. Do you need help?" I asked

"No, not yet."

"I'll wait in the living room."

Michelle left after picking up a box of stuff.

"I hate this place. Goodbye." Michelle said and closed the door.

10:00

Jackie

"So... this is the Home depot," I said.

Yes. Jacky left me on the Uber ride here.

"Yeah. Let's go." Michelle said.

We went straight to the bedroom section.

"First thing on the list: mattress," Michelle said and started trying them out.

"Hmm... no. Too stiff." Michelle said while lying on the mattress.

"Hey how about this one? It's bouncy and soft." I asked while sitting on the mattress.

"The price tag." Michelle pointed.

"Oh," I said.

Jacky

Hallelujah, that's expensive. 11:20

"Well. I prefer your sofa more..."

Jacky

No. 11:21

"Nah let's just get you an actual bed instead."

"Oh. How about... this one?"

"Let's see."

"Mhm. Just like your sofa." Michelle said. "I'm choosing this one."

"Alright."

"The second thing on the list will be beddings and pillows," Michelle said.

A FEW HOURS LATER

We rented a truck and delivered the mattress and beddings home after we take care of Michelle's bed

Michelle started to unpack the stuff she brought back from her former home after we

She took out a photo of her with a man.

"That's... the guy named Chris." She said.

"Do you need me to take care of that for you?" I asked.

"No. That way I will remember him. I'll just put it away."

"Oh is this the 118?" I asked.

"Yes. That's you over here. Annnnnnd That's me." Michelle pointed at the picture.

Michelle placed the picture on the desk, next to her laptop.

"This is my family..." Michelle said.

"Yeah," I said.

Michelle stood up and grabbed the photo frame with the picture of herself and Chris. She took out the photo and ripped it into the pieces.

"And he's not my family," Michelle said, then threw the pieces of the picture into the trash can. "Alright. I don't have to pretend that I am strong anymore."

"Need a hug?"

"Yes."