Rebecca's story

“Mommy, help!” cried Christopher, her oldest child, almost age four.  Recognizing the cry as a minor complication rather than a true emergency, Rebecca replied “What is it, honey?”

“I can’t find my game.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

Rebecca finished drying the dishes and walked over to the family computer.  Chris was sitting in front of the computer with his hand on the mouse, randomly clicking.  “What are you looking for, buddy?” Rebecca asked.

“My VeggieTales game.”

“Oh, I know how to find it” Rebecca replied, taking control of the mouse.  She clicked on the Address line then clicked on the down arrow to show the list of recently visited sites.  As she read through the list, she felt vomit rise from her stomach into her throat.  Suppressing the urge to see her lunch again, she simultaneously stifled a scream of horror.  Calmly, she clicked on veggietales.com and started the game. 

“I’ll be right back, buddy. I’m just going to my bedroom” she instructed Chris. 

Walking as quickly as she could, she made it to her bedroom without crying.  Shutting the door, she began to cry and jump up and down in a fit of despair, anger and disgust.  Silently, she processed the name of the website listed, shook her body and threw herself on the bed. It was the complete opposite of the innocent kids site her son visited. The website provided answers to questions she had asked for several years.  It explained so many things that were wrong with her marriage.  It shook the foundation of her being.  Yet it was so shocking she couldn’t tell anyone.  Not yet, at least.  She would have to continue the facade and survive the next eternal minutes, days, who knew how long.

​After what seemed an eternity, Rebecca swallowed her lunch, again.  Resolving to remain calm for the evening, she returned to the family room to manage dinner, her preschooler, and her baby.  Soon, her husband, Anthony, would return for another evening of hide and seek.  And not the game children played... the version in which her secretive, deceptive husband excelled.