One morning, Maria woke up early to check her email; she was expecting an important email from her mom. The email had not arrived yet but she realized that she had received an email from a guy named Enrique who lived in Chicago. Apparently, he thought she was the perfect match so he sent her a friend request. She was confused and asked him how did he know her and how did he manage to find her email address. He responded that he found her trough a dating website. It took her time to remember that a while back her friend had created an account for her because she had little time to socialize and meet the right guy for her. After months of talking through the web, they began to know each other. Maria finally decided to tell him to move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to live with her in the house she was currently renting. Weeks after his arrival she began to actually know Enrique, he was a rebel, before she could remember her life had become fast and exciting. Late night parties, dancing, drinking, and then more drinking.

One night, Enrique told her that he would meet some of his friends to get a drink and that he would be back in a couple of hours. He never came back until the next day in the morning he was walking into the house, his shirt was buttoned incorrectly and he was holding his head with one hand, it was obvious that he had a hangover. He walked with great precaution while staring at Maria who had fallen asleep in the couch while waiting for him to come home. He tripped on his way up to the stairs. The noise of him falling woke Maria, she was startled. “Enrique?” she asked, “What time is it?” He did not respond, he was using the stairs rail to help him stand up. Maria then remembered that he did not come home last night and angrily began to question him where he had spent the night. Enrique didn’t bother to answer to any of her questions, he had heard enough of her insults, and he just closed his fist and began hitting her. He tried pushing her down the stairs but luckily she grabbed on to the stairs rail and stopped half way. Lucky for her the owners of the home had put soft thick carpet, also in the living room, so it cushioned her fall a little bit.

“OW,” Maria was grabbing her stomach while trying to catch her breath. “PLEASE, STOP, I’M SORRY. WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU!?” Maria cried.

“You haven’t done a single thing, that’s the problem. You lazy, good for nothing… ugh… I can’t stand to talk to you right now. I come late home from work starving and I find you laying down in the couch like a pig.” Enrique said.

He got louder and louder after every word he spoke. Maria just stood still, she was afraid of what could happen to her if she tried to leave.

It is hard to do house work I come exhausted from school, you wouldn’t know anything about it since you dropped out before you even graduated from High School,” Maria muttered.

Enrique heard her and looked more furious than a bull.
”Do you want me to cook you something?” Maria said frightened.
“No my appetite is gone now,” Enrique went to his room to fall asleep.

On his way he threw to the ground everything that was at his reach, it seemed as if a tornado had been in the house.

Enrique woke up when it was midnight he had lost his head ache and began to remember his discussion with Maria.

He got dressed and on his way out the door he told Maria, “I’m going out with some friend’s, I’ll see you later, don’t wait up.”

As Enrique walks out the door he said “Oh, I love you.”

She ignored him so he slammed the door, knocking off a picture that was hanging in the wall. Maria, with fear, went to pick up the picture it was one of the very first picture they had taken when they moved in together. She began to hear the blood in her ears, she can look at her veins silently pumping blood, and a thousand drops of water dripped from her eyes after she was unable to hold in her emotions any much longer.

The next day he arrived home and was full of remorse. He promised her that this was never going to happen again, and he was going to stop drinking to prove how ashamed he was of his actions.

“Things will be different from now” he said.

Maria believed him and their relationship did improve. Soon Maria discovered she was pregnant. Enrique was filled with excitement from the news. He began to meet all her needs and even helped around the house, this was a whole different Enrique than the one Maria was used to.

A few months later he came home drunk from work, Maria was in disbelief and confused as to made him start drinking again. She began to insult him for the she had been worried sick and after arguing with Maria he punched her in the stomach.

Shut up! Enrique yelled
He then continued by saying/ “I’m out of a job, there is no point in having a baby that we can’t feed”
The doctor told her the baby was all right. Returning home she gave Enrique an ultimatum
– his mates and drinking or her. He chose her. The days became sad and gloomy, she was in a prison that all doors where open but she never escaped.

However after their baby was born the drinking continued, and the abuse continued.  She stayed, as Maria could not see a way out. Brief times when he was sober, things seemed pleasant. Her way of life became moving from one house to another with him since they could not afford to pay the rent. As people became aware of her situation with Enrique it was a bigger reason to kick them out, they did not want to have problem. She had learned to hide the bruises and he was good at not leaving them where they could be seen.

At last, one night Maria couldn’t take the pain that Enrique had been inflicting any longer. She knew it was time to put an end She went and bought a gun and killed Enrique.

Maria’s last words before committing suicide were:

“No more, I deserve this.
No more, telling me is my fault.
No more, Ignorance.
No more, she was asking for it.
No more, being afraid.
No more, abuse.

No more, me.”