The darkness engulfs her as she slowly stretches, gingerley at first just checking that everything is ok.

It hurts but not badly.  It has been worse, a lot worse.

She slowly moves to a kneeling position before hauling herself to her feet.  Without turning on the light she feels along the wall untill she reaches the door handle. She holds onto it with both hands hoping that will still any noise.

The entire flat is in darkness.  This makes things difficult for her.  She doesn't want to turn on any lights, who knows whats out there in the darkness.

Something brushes past her legs, startled she jumps then just as quickly breathes a deep sigh of relief.  It's her dog, the faithful old friend who's always there to comfort her.  Bending she strokes her and with her close to her side it gives her courage to move forward.

With the wall as a guide, she painfully moves towards the living room.  Holding her breath she listens carefully.  There is not a sound.  Cautiously she looks around the door at the sofa.  It's empty.  Pulling herself forward she notices the front door is open.  Moving as quickly as her painful body will allow she shuts it quickly, shooting the dead bolt into place she leans against it for a moment closing her eyes against the sharpness of the pain.

Once it has faded she slowly moves to the kitchen.  She scans the room slowly before doing the same with the bathroom.  Once she is sure everything is quiet she moves back into the kitchen and flicks on the light.  Shutting her eyes against the sudden brightness she limps towards the kettle, checking there is water in it she switches it on.  While waiting she surveys the mess.  Cupboard doors are open, food is strewn everywhere.  All her instincts tell her to tidy up but she ignores them.  She makes a cup of tea and shakily lights a cigarette.

Gulping at the hot tea she makes up her mind.  When the tea has gone she stubs out the cigarette and moves as quickly s she can towards the bedroom.  Painfully reaching to the top of the wardrobe she pulls the small holdall down and slowly starts pulling open drawers and randomly throwing things into the bag.

This is so unlike her, normally everything is done just right.  That's the way she's always done things, that's what she was taught.  But she doesn't want to be her anymore.

Bag packed she finds her purse, there is £300 in there.  Thats enough.  She looks at her mobile and hesitates for a moment and then turns away she doesn't need that anymore.

Smiling she looks at the dog before reaching for her lead.  She would never leave anything she loved so much here.

She pulls on her coat and opens the door, throwing her keys behind her, she slams the door.

Grinning broadly she walks up the street and gets to the bus stop, just as the bus pulls up.  Climbing on she ignores the looks and whispers about her appeareance and sits down with the dog at her side.

She looks at the house in darkness as the bus trundles past and has no regrets.  She imagines his face when he comes home and she is not there.  She imagines him waiting in vain for her to come home so he can make the usual promises and apologies. 

She then pictures his face as he realises his punchbag has gone.

She laughs loudly and almost wishes she could see his face.  But now she is free and she intends to stay that way.