Her gaze bounced to the floor. My stomach sank.

“You can’t be serious? Why would you want to stay with someone who hurt you?”

“It was my fault. I kinda flirted with a friend of ours. We were stoned and I guess I just wasn’t thinking,” she said.

“And that gives him the right to hit you?”

The smile on her face was confusing. “It’s just because he likes me so much. He got jealous.”

Unbelievable. She was turning his violence into a romantic gesture. I felt sick.

I knew he didn’t hit her out of jealousy or passion. It was all about control for him.

I’d seen him flirt with other girls all the time. I’d even seen girls emerging from his apartment in the early mornings when I’d leave Millie’s.

Not to mention that he leered at me all the time. Watching me in a creepy way, especially when we all blasted music and danced together around his living room. It’s like he was getting off on it.

Millie knew all of this too. Turned a blind eye. It was like she didn’t believe she was worth more. But I knew she was, and that was why I had to get her away from him. She may not have been able to fight for herself, but she’d fight for me, wouldn’t she?

If Mitch hurt me, she’d have to face what kind of monster he was.

I thought she would choose me over him.

That’s why I did what I did. And before you judge me, know this: I did it to help Millie. To save her. I did it out of love.

One afternoon when I was leaving Millie’s I spotted Mitch standing outside his apartment smoking a cigarette.

“Hey.” I walked over to him. “Can I bum a cigarette?”

Without a word, he handed me one. He wore a wifebeater tank top, baggy pants that rode low on his hips. His hair was messy like he’d just woken up. I lit up the cigarette, held it gingerly to my lips. After taking a drag, I blew it into his face.

“What the hell?” He scrunched up his nose, batting the smoke away. Big slicing motions with his arm.

My insides trembled. This would be too easy. He was already getting upset. It never did take much.

But could I go through with this?

I thought about how easy it would be to walk away now and hurry home. To safety. But, no, I had to do this. For Millie.

After taking a few more drags off my cigarette for courage, I tossed it down, ground it out with the toe of my shoe. Then looked up at Mitch.

“You know she’s too good for you, right?” I said, my voice strong and steady, despite how my insides felt.

“What?” His entire face scrunched up as if in disgust.