The small white pickup wound its way carefully down the canyon road. Kelly settled back into the seat and watched the morning sun cast brilliant golden rays through the trees. The rocks stood around them like tall, jagged sentries, cloaked in purple shadows. Sharp needles of frost sparkled on the ground. The truck passed beneath the branches of a huge pine, where a hulking redtail hawk perched hungrily. Far below them, a creek crashed and foamed as it tumbled down over the rocks.

"I'm getting sick of driving this canyon every day," Joe complained.

"Want me to drive?" Kelly asked.

"I've told you before, you're not touching this truck!"

"You know, Joe, I would think you1d enjoy this drive every day. It's so beautiful."

"Easy for you to say. You're the one sitting there watching the scenery."

"True," Kelly agreed, patiently. She reached for the small brown paper bag at her feet. "What's this?"

"That's your lunch. I packed it for you this morning."

"Oh, thanks! That was sweet of you!" she smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek. He had remembered her leftover steak from the night before. He smiled back at her, and she felt the tension evaporating. She opened the bag and looked inside, then hesitated.

"What is this?"

"It's bologna," he replied.

"I thought we were having steak sandwiches for lunch today."

"I forgot!"

A giggle burst from her. He glared at her. "Care to tell me what's so damn funny?"

She laughed again, and said, "I don't know. It's funny."

"Shut up!" He was scowling, sending sharp glances from her to the road and back.

"What?" She was confused now. Her smile died. "What is your problem?"

"You're the one with the problem, you stupid bitch! I do something nice for you, and you laugh at me!"

"Lighten up, would you? And I am not stupid!"

POW! Pain exploded on the side of her face. She threw up her left arm, to try to ward off the next punch. She felt him raining more blows on her arm. He grabbed the bandage on her wrist and pulled on it. The truck swayed and veered over the center line and then back again.

"Stop it!" she screamed. "You'll kill us!"

"No I won't!" he snarled. "Just you!" He swung his fist once more, catching her in the mouth. She tasted blood, and began to cry.

He was silent as she sat with her head down, sobbing quietly. The road stretching out before them seemed never-ending. She cried the whole way.

Finally he pulled into the parking lot of the building where she worked, and stopped. She flung the door open and ran up the steps. "Wait a minute!" he screamed. "I want to talk to you!"

As she pulled the heavy door open, she heard him swearing. It closed behind her, cutting his voice off with a soft thud.

"Kelly, my God!"

Kelly looked up from the sink where she was holding a cold paper towel to her lips. In the doorway stood Isabel, watching in horror. In spite of herself, Kelly smiled, which was her usual reaction at the sight of her friend. Isabel's auburn hair was spiked, which seemed to add to her height. Her skin was like porcelain. She wore dark pink blush on her cheeks, heavy black eyeliner, and red lipstick. The effect was like that of a china doll. Coupled with the spiked hair, and the way she dressed, she was a fashion mishmash. Characteristically she wore one long earring, and a plaid flannel shirt that she let hang open to reveal a black lace camisole underneath. Usually this was set off by a large belt, tights, and, always, spiked heel granny boots.

Isabel took a hesitant step inside the door, accompanied by a clinking sound. She was always dripping with jewelry.

"Hi, Izzy," Kelly said.

"Kelly, what the hell oh, don't even tell me. That bastard!" Isabel grabbed Kelly and clutched her fiercely to her chest. "Kelly, you listen to me. You have got to get away this jerk, or he's going to kill you someday. That is, unless you beat him to it."

"Come on, Izzy --"

"Kelly, this is battery!"

"What, you mean like the little pink rabbit on TV?"

"That's not funny, dammit! Look at yourself!"

Kelly looked obediently Into the mirror. She saw two blue eyes twinkling with humor, but they quickly darkened to pools of sadness. There was one big black mark on her cheek,

and her lower lip was red and swollen on one side like a chill pepper.

"Look, Kelly, this is a bad situation. You know the old saying, 'Hit me once, shame on you; hit me twice, shame on me!' Well, shame on you, Kelly Gustafson! You should think a little more of yourself. You're beautiful! You're smart! You're funny..."

"Thanks, you're not so bad yourself." Kelly looked over at her friend. "Oh, I'm sorry, Iz. I don't know why I have this urge to quip about it."

"Did you go see your therapist last night?"

"Yeah. She wants me to come twice a week. I really need help! Either that or she's not very good."

Izzy ignored the joke. "What else did she say?"

"Not too much. She gave me this." Kelly reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She handed it to Isabel.

"Hmm, 'The Battering Cycle'. Boy beats girl, boy is sorry, they make up. The tension builds and it starts all over again."

Isabel paused, then said, "Don't you think this applies to you?"

"I hadn't really thought about it that much," Kelly confessed. "I just thought if I could find a way to make him happy, It would get better That's why I went to see the shrink; to try to change myself."

"I thought you went because you took a paring knife to your wrists the other day."

"Well, that too."

"Listen, kiddo. You're not stuck in Nederland. You can always stay here In Boulder with me. I could teach you my darkroom techniques. It would be fun."

"But I've got no car --"

"Big deal! We'll use mine," Isabel shrugged.

"Oh, Izzy, I don't know. Roommate situations never seem to work out for me. And I would hate to impose on you."

"Kelly, I live in a loft! What's to impose on? It's not like I have a love life!"

"I'll think about it, okay?"

"Sure," Isabel turned to go.

"Isabel, the thing is -- " Isabel stopped and looked back at her friend. "I'm thirty years old, and I've had one failed marriage already. I've lived in four different states and had six different careers. I'm just so tired of starting over!" Kelly's voice broke, and she sobbed. Isabel strode back to her quickly, enveloping her in long, strong arms, and held her while she cried.