So You Think You Might Be Trapped In An Abusive Relationship
Dear LJ,
I know you're worried about me. But please, please don't be. I can take care of myself.
Look - Work doesn't mean to hurt me. It's my own fault, really - I just make him so mad, LJ. And then he kinda loses control, but he doesn't mean to make me come in early and stay late and skip my lunch. I mean, he floods my inbox with emails because he loves me.
And he always apologizes. Always! And he gives me a day off if it's gotten really rough. I mean - a little lost sleep, that's nothing, right? It's not like Work is beating me or anything, okay? It's my own fault, really - I have to learn to go to bed earlier, instead of staying up late wasting time reading or talking to my friends or something.
The thing is - Work needs me. I mean really needs me. You don't know him like I do, okay? I know from the outside Work looks like - well, Work probably looks like a hot mess. But when you get to know him - I mean, practically everyone has abandoned Work. His mother is manic-depressive, LJ, and she's been in and out of hospitals for years. His father is emotionally unavailable and - well, don't tell anyone I told you this, but I think he might be hiding a fairly advanced case of Alzheimer's. Or at least severe senility. Anyway, and when he was 10 his older sister eloped with some guy in Atlanta and just cut off contact with the whole family. I mean, Work practically had to raise himself! Work is really remarkable when you think about it - just that he's come this far, through so much adversity. He deserves someone who'll make his life easier. I can be that someone. I want to be that someone.
What? No, nothing's wrong with my eye. No, I... um... I walked into a door. This morning, yeah. Silly me, I didn't have my glasses on, and I'd just woken up and BANG! I'll be fine.
Sorry to cut this short, LJ, but I have to go call the office.
Love,
Alanna
I know you're worried about me. But please, please don't be. I can take care of myself.
Look - Work doesn't mean to hurt me. It's my own fault, really - I just make him so mad, LJ. And then he kinda loses control, but he doesn't mean to make me come in early and stay late and skip my lunch. I mean, he floods my inbox with emails because he loves me.
And he always apologizes. Always! And he gives me a day off if it's gotten really rough. I mean - a little lost sleep, that's nothing, right? It's not like Work is beating me or anything, okay? It's my own fault, really - I have to learn to go to bed earlier, instead of staying up late wasting time reading or talking to my friends or something.
The thing is - Work needs me. I mean really needs me. You don't know him like I do, okay? I know from the outside Work looks like - well, Work probably looks like a hot mess. But when you get to know him - I mean, practically everyone has abandoned Work. His mother is manic-depressive, LJ, and she's been in and out of hospitals for years. His father is emotionally unavailable and - well, don't tell anyone I told you this, but I think he might be hiding a fairly advanced case of Alzheimer's. Or at least severe senility. Anyway, and when he was 10 his older sister eloped with some guy in Atlanta and just cut off contact with the whole family. I mean, Work practically had to raise himself! Work is really remarkable when you think about it - just that he's come this far, through so much adversity. He deserves someone who'll make his life easier. I can be that someone. I want to be that someone.
What? No, nothing's wrong with my eye. No, I... um... I walked into a door. This morning, yeah. Silly me, I didn't have my glasses on, and I'd just woken up and BANG! I'll be fine.
Sorry to cut this short, LJ, but I have to go call the office.
Love,
Alanna