Permanent Resident at the Purse Table by Keisha Bass

more careful in the future.
    He pulled her blouse out of her skirt and his hand traveled underneath her clothing. She grabbed his hands to push them off her, but she proved too weak for his burly strength. “Did you not hear me? I’m telling you to get out.”
    â€œI’m not interested in what you have to say. I’m interested in what you can do.” His hand squeezed tighter on her arm.
    She pushed her hands into his chest, but he stood his ground. Lord, please get me out of this. I won’t ever be this stupid again. Please.
    â€œStop fighting me, Toni. You’re making this harder than it has to be.”
    â€œLeave me alone.” She hiked her knee, grazing his groin area and ran for the door.
    He roared at her, causing a lamp to crash into her glass coffee table. Pieces of glass smashed everywhere. “Come here, trick!” Roderick pulled the back of her hair, turning her around by the fierce grasp. Using his left hand to rip the front of her blouse open, his fingers intruded under her bra. Toni exerted all her strength to wrestle his hands away from her. When that didn’t work, she poked him in the eyes with a quick two-finger motion.
    â€œAhh!” He readjusted his grip on her hair and slapped her across the face.
    She screamed as the left side of her face was on fire.
    He collared his hand around her neck and yelled, “I told you not to make this hard. It’s going to happen whether you want it to or not!”
    The door vibrated. A male voice was on the other side of the door. “The heck it is! Ain’t nothing going to happen but me kicking your tail. Open the door!”
    â€œEric? Hurry! He’s attacking me.” She repeatedly pushed his hands off of her.
    Roderick relaxed his grip on her neck. “Who’s Eric?”
    â€œSomeone who’s about to whoop you.” She backed away from him. Just then, the door burst open. Eric stood there. He stormed at Roderick, taking hold of his collar, fighting him to the ground. Then Eric repeatedly introduced the backside of his fist to Roderick’s face.
    Toni rushed to retrieve her cell phone out of her purse to call 911, hoping it was charged enough to make the call, since she never did get that landline her mother told her she might need for emergencies. She never figured she’d have this type of emergency.
    Describing the events to the dispatch operator made her more neurotic, only able to spit out a few words in between hurried breaths. The operator assured her someone was on their way before she hung up. Once Eric was physically tired, he got up off the ground and backed away from Roderick who lay on the floor unconscious.
    Sitting crouched in a ball in the corner of the living room, Toni exhaled. Eric road in on his white horse and transformed into her knight in an Air Jordan sweat suit. He’d shown up at her house many times before, but this time she was overjoyed. He knelt down beside her. Turning her body toward him, he held her in a tight embrace. As her heart pounded, she buried her head into his chest while her tears fell into the creases of his shirt.
    When the police arrived, they arrested Roderick and placed him in the back of one of the two squad cars. After Toni and Eric gave their statements, Toni thanked the officer and closed the door. How could she show Eric how grateful she was? With showing up at the right moment, he had come a long way in a short time. A knock pounded the front door.
    Toni looked at Eric. “Who is it?”
    â€œOfficer Walker.”
    She unlocked the door and opened it to let him in.
    The officer scratched the back of his head. “Um. I hate to do this, but Roderick is pressing charges against Eric.” He moved over toward Eric and began placing handcuffs on him while he read him his Miranda rights.
    Toni was in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? If it wasn’t for him, I could’ve gotten raped.”
    â€œYes, ma’am, I