Silent criesThis is the tenth time Lisa has been admitted to hospital in the past two years. At least this time there are no broken bones or concussions to worry about. Lisa only has two black eyes, some of her beautiful long hair forcibly ripped from her head, a nasty black and blue bruise on her neck, and a few nails ripped straight from newly manicured nail beds. Lisa swore to God and her best friend Brandy that this was the final straw. In fact, she made the exact same oath under oath just three months ago, and yet, by chance, she finds herself in the same position she swore she would never return to. But this time it was different. She planned to move her belongings from the small apartment she shared with her boyfriend upon her release from Sinai Grace Hospital, and from what seemed like her home away from home. Lisa has arranged for her mother to watch her 2-year-old daughter while she looks for work, and Brandy has already told Lisa she can stay with her as long as she needs. However, the very next day, Lisa calls to inform Brandy that she has decided to stay with Jason despite the horrible things he has done to her. Lisa thinks Jason changed overnight and deserves a second chance, and that a child should be raised with both parents at home. Unfortunately, Brandy wasn't surprised by the phone call, in fact, she expected it. As the wave of guilt and the "shoulda's, coulda's, shoulda's" tried to overcome Brandy again, she quickly snapped back to reality, wiped the tears from her face, and placed the roses white on Lisa's tombstone. A story like Lisa's usually raises the million dollar question; why do women stay in abusive relationships? Across the country...... middle of paper ...... Academic research completed. Internet. April 18, 2014. Rabbitt, Meghan. “Inner Terror”. Women's Health (08847355) 10.10 (2013): 130-137. Complete Consumer Health - EBSCOhost. Internet. April 6, 2014 Read, Katy. “Regrets of a stay-at-home mother.” Real families. Salon, January 5, 2011. Web. April 4, 2014. Sichelman, Lew. “Mom and pop households down sharply.” National Mortgage News 37.34 (2013): 1. Comprehensive commercial source. Internet. April 5, 2014.Sullivan, Katie. “Ongoing domestic violence problem sparks countywide policy response shift.” Times-Tribune, The (Scranton, PA) May 26, 2013: Newspaper source. Internet. April 5, 2014.Thornton, Victoria. “Understanding the emotional impact of domestic violence on young children. » Educational and child psychology, March 2014, vol. 31, number 1, p90-100, 11p, 3 black and white photographs, 1 diagram; found on p95Ford, Nyketah. Telephone interview. April 14. 2014.