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break.”
    â€œOh,” Jenise answered with little enthusiasm. She still had not been able to get rid of the headache he’d given her three days earlier when he’d punched her repeatedly in the face, so she silently hoped he did not want her to listen to any loud music. She lay down beside him on the bed and turned toward the television. “You wanna watch a movie?” she suggested.
    â€œNo, I’m busy working on my music, girl.”
    â€œCan you keep it down a bit? I have a horrible headache.” Jenise slowly rubbed her fingers in circles on her head.
    â€œYou always got some kind of ache. If it ain’t your head, it’s your stomach. Then yesterday you were throwing up.” Reggie stopped playing his video and put his iPad down. “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant again. We can’t afford another baby, Jenise,” he said angrily.
    â€œI am not pregnant. I just don’t feel good. Can you go to the store and get me some Goody headache powders?”
    â€œYeah, if you got some money, and if you buy me a beer.” He held out his hand expectantly.
    Jenise struggled to sit up on the bed. Her head was pounding even harder than earlier. She stood up and walked across the room to get her purse. The next thing she knew, Reggie was standing over her looking worried as she lay sprawled out on the floor.
    â€œJenise, baby, are you okay?” he asked. “You’ve been out for almost five minutes.”
    â€œI guess I got dizzy and fell. Help me up.” She held up her hands to reach for him.
    â€œNo, I’ve already called nine-one-one. Just stay put until the paramedics get here.”
    Jenise reached up and put her hand over the cut on her cheek that had not yet healed. “What if they ask me about this?” she said.
    â€œJust say it happened when you fell, Jenise.”
    There was a loud, urgent knock at the front door, and Reggie ran to answer it. A few seconds later, he returned with the paramedics following behind him.
    One of them was a tall Caucasian man with dark brown hair. He looked down at Jenise on the floor and immediately noticed the bruising on her face. “What happened here, Miss?” he asked.
    â€œI was walking across the room, and I just fell. I’ve had a headache for about three days,” she answered.
    The paramedic knelt down beside her. “Have you experienced any vomiting or nausea?” he asked.
    â€œYesterday I threw up a few times,” she answered.
    The paramedic looked at Jenise’s bruising and touched her face gently. He turned and gave Reggie a disgusted look, then turned back at Jenise. “Have you, um, fallen any other times in the past week?” he asked, then looked at Reggie again.
    â€œNo, today was the first time.” She noticed that both paramedics were now glaring at her husband. “I’m fine, really. I just got a little dizzy. If you’ll just help me up I’ll be fine.” Jenise reached out her hand, but the paramedic was still staring at Reggie. She tapped him on his shoulder to get his attention and extended her hand once again.
    Ignoring her hand, the paramedic continued asking Jenise questions. “How did you get that bruise on your face?” he inquired.
    â€œOh, I bumped into the wall or something.”
    â€œCould that something have been your husband’s fist?” he asked.
    Reggie rushed over to where they were and stood towering over the paramedic. He was only five foot seven, but with the paramedic on his knees, it gave him a false sense of superiority, allowing him to raise his voice. “Look, you can’t come in here making crazy accusations like that. I’ve never put my hands on her. She told you she bumped into the wall.” He looked down at Jenise and gave her a look that demanded she back him up.
    â€œHe’s telling the truth, honestly. I’m okay,” she said to the paramedic, then turned to her