Counting the Days (22 page)

The officer stated that when the forensic evidence started coming in, they found that Tina had been murdered. They suspected Danny, so they began questioning him and, sure enough, they obtained a full confession from him. He’s already been charged and will be going to trial before the year was out for murder in the first-degree. Samantha was very upset and questioned why they were bothering to charge him with another murder since he’s already got a life sentence for killing her mother.

After the officers left, Debra gave Samantha a big hug and they discussed how the coming months were going to be long and drawn out. Debra has protected Samantha in that she doesn’t know Danny. He surely is a piece of work, though. Every once in a while, they’ll receive a collect call from the jail, but Debra has trained Samantha well and she declines the calls. He even sends Samantha letters and cards every month, but she always returns them unopened. She has no interest in hearing anything he has to say. Because of him, she doesn’t have a mother. Secretly, she hoped he’d fry for all the misery he’s put everyone through.

“
Mommy, I wish you were here to help me. Don’t get me wrong, I love grandma, she’s great, but it would be so much better if you were here.”

Debra is very overprotective of Samantha. So much so, that she smothers Samantha a little too much. She worries about everything and sometimes doesn’t give Samantha room to breathe. Debra loves Samantha with all her heart and spoils her rotten, but life has not been a bowl of roses for the Edwards and Monroes. It’s been pretty rough over the years. Debra keeps things together and has given Samantha a life filled with lots of love.

Today Samantha needs some advice. She’s been trying really hard to be good. She has excellent grades and an extremely nice boyfriend. He’s a senior and has recently been accepted to Harvard Law School. Samantha is thinking about going the same route, but her heart leans toward medical school.

At seventeen, Samantha has reached a crossroad in her life and must decide whether she wants to pursue her dream or her love.

“
Help me mom, what should I do?”

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233

1-800-787-3224 TTY

www.ndvh.org