““The throbbing in her jaw brought her back. The sky outside was brightening, the morning light highlighting the horrible mess in front of her. She must have been out for a while. Rising, she took in the scene. The man was collapsed on her game room floor, slowly leaking blood on her Berber carpet. She idly eyed the stain. “That’s going to be a bitch to get out.” She shook her head to clear the cobwebs. What an inane thing to say. Shock, she must be going into shock. How long had they fought? Had it been only five minutes? Half an hour? She felt like she had struggled against him for days; her body was tired and sore. Never mind the blood caked around her mouth and the gaping slash across her shin. She put her hand up to her face. Her nose was broken again. Damn.””
![“He moved around the wide counter, silent as always. She was sitting on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees, her fist in her mouth to try to quiet her sobs, and he realized he hadn’t actually seen her cry before. [..] She must have felt his eyes on her, for she suddenly swallowed her sob…” quote by Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/anne-stuart-2580_eyes-looking_he-moved-around-the-wide-counter-silent_2223162.jpg)
![“Unless we're very intentional about meditating on these truths [that show God's love], they slip from our thoughts like misty dreams that evaporate in the morning light. That's why Luther said we must take heed then, to embrace...the love and kindness of God...[and to] daily excercise [our] faith…” quote by Elyse Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/025/elyse-fitzpatrick-19135_doubt_unless-we-re-very-intentional-about-medi_259795.jpg)
