Share

Chapter 2

Author: A.L. Rose
last update Last Updated: 2021-08-24 07:13:48

There are times in your life that you never forget. Times when you learn an important lesson but one you never wanted to learn. I could have gladly gone my whole life without some lessons I've learned. They aren't the type to make you grow and blossom in life. No, they are there to make you understand that some mistakes you never come back from. You'll never be innocent of. I've learned what it feels like to realize I cannot protect myself. I know how fragile I am and how fast someone can make me feel that. I've learned that someone can take away all control I have over my own life. But, I've also learned that I can be stuck there with no way out. 

The night I realized there was no way out was when Rob had thrown a glass vase at me, and it exploded off my wrist when I threw my arm up to deflect it. He was on a rant about something, and I can't even remember what it was anymore. There's always something, but I managed to get my phone and run out of the condo calling the police. Rob stood on the balcony and shouted down to go ahead and call the police, but if he went to jail, then I would go with him. I had not understood what he was saying at the time, but once the police had talked to both of us, I had learned. Rob had gone back inside the condo after saying that, and he took a piece of glass from the broken vase and cut himself. He told the police that I broke the vase and came after him with broken glass. The police informed me that if I pressed charges against Rob, he could press charges against me. So I didn't press charges. I knew then that there was no way out. The police made Rob pack some clothes to stay at his sister's house for the night, and Rob left, but he was back in just a few hours. He took my phone and put it inside his pocket and then he made me pay. I was scared that I had lost my hearing in one ear at that time. I couldn't hear anything out of it for two days. Rob usually gets my phone first now, but I don't think calling the cops will help me out of this anyway. I'm scared that I would somehow end up being the one that goes to jail.

I drive to the grocery store and buy the things I know he likes. I swing through the drive-through and order a big mac meal and eat it in the car. I make sure to throw everything in the garbage so that he won’t know about it; I learned after I missed a receipt one time, and he doesn’t like it when I buy fast food. He said that all my fat ass thinks about is food and not how much it costs. The more I try not to eat, the more I can’t seem to help myself. I stop at the gas station and pick up a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. I smoke three cigarettes on the way home—one right after the other. I wish I could drink, but it would be too reckless. He would catch me, and I need my wits together to deal with him. That’s a bad idea anyway because if I start, I’ll probably never stop, just like the stupid idea to smoke cigarettes.

I get home and unload the groceries. My ibuprofen has worn off, so I risk my liver and take a few more. Then clean the condo from top to bottom, even scrubbing the baseboards down and vacuuming the curtains.

I admire the spotless condo and all the decorating I’ve done over the last two years. But, I have to be careful because Rob doesn’t like it when I spend money except for those few times he was excited about decorating our condo. Then he went a little wild, letting me loose in the Home Goods store.  That was before things became the way they are now. That was when I was the best thing to ever happen to him. So much for that! I thought.

I decided to count the money saved at the bottom of my maxi-pad box.  It took me a while to think of the best hiding place but feeling sure he’d never have reason to bother with that; it seemed ingenious. Lying about the number of tips I was making made me nervous. He was suspicious, so I only saved what I thought I could safely get away with. Each day when he comes home, he counts my tips and decides what he needs for bills. We have always kept separate accounts, so no idea where it all goes. I know he shouldn’t be stressed, though. He implemented this system not long after we were married, and I didn’t like it at all, but nothing made a difference and only caused many fights that progressively became more violent. Finally, I gave up, just like giving up my freedom to make any choices for myself or own my emotions. I have my few rebellions that manage to keep me sane barely and the fantasies.

My daydreams are about all sorts of scenarios where I’m free from him.  I sometimes live in memories of better times before I met Rob. Those make me sad, though, sometimes, so I try not to do it often. Especially the memories of Brodie and me. What would he think of me now?  That’s the one that hurts. He wouldn’t like this woman at all. I feel my eyes start to burn and will it away. No time for that, Nova dear, I say to myself. It’s dead and gone. Leave it buried.

Walking to my room to find something for my dinner date, it's like walking to the gallows. I used to hope that the Rob that married me would come back. I would try to please him, lost pride, and begged many times, and I tried to make him see reason, but my love for him just cut off like a switch one day. It was a relief. I could navigate the roller coaster of Rob so much better when not pining for his love. The anger is harder to control, though, and it’s getting harder by the day.

Picking a black oversized sweater that draped off a shoulder and dark blue jeans, thinking I would just dress it up with jewelry, shoes, and a belt and fretting over each decision as if it were the decision to cut off someone's life support machine, I decided to take another shower since I got sweaty while cleaning. Finally, finally, I could let the hot water run over all the aches in my body. The goose egg was still on the back of my head, and it was sore, so washing and conditioning weren’t very fun, but I managed. I stepped out of the shower and examined myself in the mirror. My face looked dead. It reflected the way my soul felt, and I hated it.

My hair stuck out over the goose egg, making a weird bump on the back of my head; there were bruises on my ribs, hip, legs, and tailbone. The bruises on my ribs ran around to my back also, and my arms had hand marks. Yellow ones from last week and purple ones from the night before. Scratch the sweater because that’s not going to work. I took my time getting ready. Trying different hairstyles, even ones that pulled at the bump and made it hurt. Nothing worked; it still looked like I had a huge Knot on my head. Finally, I just took the curling iron to it and fluffed it out. Switched the sweater for a lacey black top with long sleeves and a high neck. It was form-fitting with a little peplum bottom. I paired it with black and red dangle earrings, red suede booties with a high skinny heel, and a black suede belt. My bangs were getting long, so I swept them in a side sweep. With my make-up, I went a little darker with the eyeshadow than usual. My blonde hair and grey eyes just make me look better with more natural tones, but I thought I’d give something new a try. So I made them a little smoky.  Worrying my lip and staring at the extra few pounds on my butt and legs, I figured the dark jeans were slimming, and that was the best I could do with it.

My nerves started to string tight as the clock kept creeping closer to time for Rob to get in. He doesn’t like the weight on me even though I was a size fourteen when we started dating, and now I’m in size six. I don’t understand why something that never bothered him then bothered him so much after we married. I’m five-two, so it doesn’t take much to make me plumpy.

He has always’s liked my style of dress, though. He likes to show me off, and the way I dress makes him happy. So maybe this will help his mood. Who knows?

I just hope he’s too tired to make any moves because it’s getting so hard to fake interest. I practiced a bright smile in the mirror a few times, then made faces at myself and laughed. You're losing it, Nova Jane, I said to the mirror, then made my way to the kitchen for a diet soda.

 I could smoke a cigarette, but there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was going to risk getting caught, so I checked my phone and saw two missed calls: my mom and my twin brother. I heard a key in the door and fluffed my hair out, hoping the Knot isn’t too noticeable. Rob walks in and smiles as he looks me over. “Damn baby, You look beautiful.” I smile and find that it’s not so hard this time. I don’t love him anymore, but it’s like the old Rob, and it seems more natural. “ Thank you, Darlin.” I throw in a wink.

It’s usually so hard not to come off as a robot that I take advantage of his relaxed mood to bring some of the old me back. He grins and shakes his head. “There’s my Nova Jane” he walks over to me, and I stiffen slightly but force myself to relax. He puts an arm around my lower back and pulls me into him. I watch as his eyes move over my face and hair. “A beauty,” he says softly. I smile and remind myself that it’s a ruse. I’ve let my guard down before, and it wasn’t pretty, but it was much easier to kiss him when he leaned in for one than it had been that morning when the devil was in him.

“ Going to grab a quick shower and get dressed. Give me thirty, ok?” Rob releases me and goes on to say as he’s heading to the bedroom, “ We’re going to sharky’s, and Dave and Melissa are meeting us there.” I loved Sharky’s beachfront, and Dave and Melissa were nice enough, but I felt gloom creep in again. I know how Rob works, and he’s given them the low down on his lazy wife. My love of Sharky’s and someone to distract Rob’s attention will have to see me through the embarrassment.

Looking at the two missed calls again, I wish I had time to call back. Mom and Wyatt call at least every three days. I’m in Panama City Beach, FL, and they’re in Myrtle Beach, SC, where I was born and raised.

Rob had wanted to move here to be near his sister, and she had a job she said was perfect for him lined up with a hefty pay increase. So I agreed, and we moved, then; of course, the job didn’t last long before he moved on to another. His sister, Haley, and I were close until the marriage started going downhill. I came to her the first time Rob physically hurt me and told her my concerns about his mood swings and how he just gets things in his head that’s not true, and the abuse. She told me that that’s just Rob. Don’t piss him off. Next time just leave him alone until he calms down. I knew right away that Rob had beat me to the punch and gave some story about me. “ Next time,” I thought, and “ don’t piss him off.” It seems there were a lot of things I missed in the two years we dated. No wonder he didn’t bring me out to meet big sis.

 Mom and Wyatt had never liked Rob, and I thought it was just that they were holding out hope that Brodie would come back. I knew he wouldn’t be back. That door was closed, and I was bound and determined to go on with my life.

Wyatt and I had harsh words about me marrying Rob, and he said not to come crying to him and mom when I found out he was right. So I never have. It’s not entirely because I’m stubborn, though. I don’t want to bring Rob's trouble around my family, and I don’t want my brother to go to prison. Wyatt would lose his shit if he knew about any of this despite what he said about not crying to him.

They both know I had to drop my university classes and take a full-time job at the diner when Rob quit the first job, and Wyatt started asking if everything was okay. At the time, I was still peeved off about what he said and in full defense of my man.

Mom is upset that I haven’t been home in the two years I’ve been here. Rob says we can’t just take off of work and spend money. I tried numerous times until the abuse got bad then I didn’t want to bring him around Wyatt. He'd sniff it out in a nanosecond and be sitting on death row.

I’ve been saving what I can, and I’ll get myself out of the mess I’ve made. A few more months, and I can hire an attorney and beat feet to somewhere he’ll never find me. I tried to leave a few times, and I know the local motel, and even the Big Easy won’t work. I had forgotten that I talked so much about wanting to visit New Orleans. He found me and brought me back both times. My bank account was depleted with that trip. 

So I had to take a chance that he could catch me keeping out some tips, but I never leave them in my purse. If he’s home before me, I hide them under a loose brick on the condo wall near the floor and grab them after he falls asleep. I can’t leave them overnight because the maintenance or cleaning crew might find it and decide to knock on the door to ask if anyone lost some money. It’s not likely they would, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. So a loose brick and my maxi pads are helping me get away with it so far.

I sit and read the slogan’s on my maxi pads each time I hide my stash and (Safety above everything, Periods with no worries, Enjoy a beautiful life, Trusted by Millions, Say Goodbye to Worries, and Be A Free Spirit) sounds as if they have my back.

I love my twin brother, and if I were to run home, Rob would go after me. I can't take a risk on what Wyatt would do. I can't be a reason my brother gets into trouble. So this is all I can think of to do. Just run when I get a chance.

Related chapters

  • The Long Road    Chapter 3

    Sharky's with Doug and Melissa started ok. We ordered and had had some drinks and appetizers when the beer started working on my bladder, and there was no ignoring it anymore. I had to visit the ladies' room. Rob stood up to let me slide out of the booth, but I tripped over his foot when I stood up. It scuffed my shoe, and I said, "Shoot! I love these shoes."Rob looked down at my shoe and then looked at me with a mean look on his face, "Don't think that you're going to run out and buy a new pair tomorrow! You spend all of our money on clothes and shit while I work my ass off to keep a roof over our head. I can't even get your ass to go to work!"I stood there in shock. I don't know why I was shocked. I should know that nothing is across the line for Rob, but somehow I still get shocked. I could feel my face turning a bright red, and sweat broke out on my neck. I had not bought myself anything new in a little over a year, but this was Rob's way. Make everyone thi

    Last Updated : 2021-08-24
  • The Long Road    Chapter 4

    It's been a few weeks since Sharky's date night, and Rob has finally found a new job. He's very excited about it. This job is perfect for him, he says. Rob is, of course, the absolute best at it, and they can already see this and are talking about moving him up. I keep the eye roll on the inside and agree that this will be perfect for him. Something else about Rob is that he is always the best at everything, even when he's not. You agree and get on with it. No one else knows what he knows, and they're all a bunch of idiots. Rob starts to rant about the old boss and how stupid he was to let him get away, and I agree that that wasn't a smart move on his part while my eyeball twitches, but I get it under control. Thankfully there's a game on, and Rob gets sucked into it. I take a blanket out to the small balcony and curl up in a chair to watch the small section of the gulf coast off in the distance. I love the smell of the ocean. It smells like home and me

    Last Updated : 2021-09-18
  • The Long Road    Chapter 5

    Wyatt's voice telling me Grams had passed, still ringing in my ears, and all I could think about was getting to my mom. We were a tight-knit family, and mom and gram had been very close. I couldn't imagine losing my mom and what my mother must be going through right now. It's now three o'clock in the morning, and Rob is agitated and yelling because he says we don't have the money for me to take off of work and run to my family. So much for a bit of sympathy that I had just lost my Grams. My Grams was the shit. I loved the mess out of that lady, and knowing I'd never have another chat with her on the porch with a glass of her delicious sweet tea was tearing me up. Grams, conversations, and tea were life-changing. The woman had lived and learned, and she always had a wise piece of advice to impart. After arguing that I needed to be with my family and him getting angrier and angrier then lapsing into his condescending voice like I'm a child and I just don't

    Last Updated : 2021-09-19
  • The Long Road    Chapter 6

    Brodie Seeing her after so many years was a shock to my system even though Wyatt had told me she was coming, and I knew she wouldn't be able to run and hide from me this time. I wasn't prepared for the enormity of the feelings it would stir up. We've got to have a talk and put it behind us, and that's going to happen before she leaves. We're family, and now that I'm living in the town, we need to hash it out, move on from the past. I'd fucked up. I knew it, but she's married now, and I can't turn back the wheels of time. Damn, she's still beautiful. She looks even better with age. She's twenty- eight now, and I'm thirty. It doesn't seem even seem possible. I walk out to her car with Wyatt to bring her bags in and see her purse and phone lying in the front passenger seat, so I open the driver's side and sit down to gather them up. I notice a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, and the car stinks of cigarettes. "Hey Wyatt, when d

    Last Updated : 2021-09-19
  • The Long Road    Chapter 7

    I had climbed into bed with momma, and we talked in whispers about Grams; then I had made her a plate, and she ate a little bit. She perked up a little seeing me again after two years, and that made me feel guilty that I had not done this sooner. I should have just left like I did today and came to see my family. I put on a set of joggers and a shirt and blow-dried my hair. Spending so much time thinking and fantasizing about Brodie is vastly different than having him here and all up in my space. Also, sleeping under the same roof. Nothing for it but to barrel through it. So left my room to meet Mr. Bossy on the porch. Brodie was on the porch swing again and patted the space beside him when I walked out on the porch. I ignored it and sat in one of the chairs instead. He smiled and shook his head, then twisted the top off a beer and handed it to me. "How have you been?" he asked conversationally. "Great, and you?" Lies, I'd probably be tell

    Last Updated : 2021-09-20
  • The Long Road    Chapter 8

    I woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, so I brushed my teeth and made my way to the kitchen. Momma was sitting at the island with Ms. Patty, and Brodie was at the stove making french toast and bacon. "Nova! It's so good you're home, dear. Your mom has missed you so." Ms.Patty hugged me and kissed my cheek. "So good to finally have you both home." "Yes, Brodie told me he moved back. That's wonderful." I smiled and kissed her cheek. Then made my way to momma and gave her a squeeze and kiss. "I told him I was perfectly capable of making breakfast in my kitchen, but he ordered me to sit like I'm one of his commandos." Momma shook her head and smiled. "Comando's?" I was puzzled. "Those handsome security men that work with him. If I were young again, I would snatch one up!" "Momma!" I busted out laughing. "You laugh but wait until you get a gander at one," she raised a brow then wiggled it. I h

    Last Updated : 2021-09-21
  • The Long Road    Chapter 9

    I’ve decided on Oklahoma City and I'm using mom’s laptop to try to find a cheap place to stay. I might already have a job. The black escalade was gone when we left the funeral home and I haven’t seen it since. There hasn’t been any strangeness going on with Brodie and Wyatt, so it must have been my anxiety causing me to be suspicious. They had no idea about Rob or Wyatt would be in my face about it. I still haven’t contacted Rob. I don’t have it in me to deal with him and I want to enjoy my time away from him and not have him ruining it. It has been days now of having my family and soaking in every fabulous moment of it. It felt so good that I never wanted to leave. But, of course, Brodie was always hanging around. He went to work but would constantly be dropping in, and he spent every night on the couch. I still wasn’t comfortable with it simply because it made me so happy. Too safe physically yet not safe at all emotionally. I knew better than to like i

    Last Updated : 2021-09-30
  • The Long Road    Chapter 10

    Brodie Wyatt had told me about Nova not taking their conversation well, but when I got out of the shower the following day to find her gone, I was pissed. I hadn't had one of the guys on her because I was in the house with her. I didn't think she'd bolt while I was taking a shower. I went to my phone and found her note. That's when I knew what made her desperate enough to leave. She still should have come to me, and that made me angry. I picked up the phone and called Wyatt to give him a heads up about what was going down, and he mentioned that she had been doing something on Cheryl's laptop and said that she might already have a job somewhere. I went to Nova's room, and the laptop was on her dresser, so I opened it and checked the history, but she had deleted it. It was a good thing I put a tracker on her car. It would take time if I had to wait on Tyson to retrieve the information. I looked around her room but didn't find anything except a box under her bed full of

    Last Updated : 2021-09-30

Latest chapter

  • The Long Road    Chapter 12

    Nova I woke up with a throbbing head, but the rest of my body was supremely comfortable. I opened my eyes slowly and focused on a massive muscular chest. I took stock and realized I was all over Brodie. He was sleeping on his back, and I was almost entirely draped over him. My arm stretched over his abdomen, holding him to me and my leg draped over his upper thighs. My head was partly in his armpit and partly on his chest. He had the arm under my head curled around me and his hand on my shoulder. That hand moved then and sifted through my hair. "Good morning sunshine," his voice was raspy with sleep. I groaned and tried to move off of him, but his arm tightened, and he brought the other one around to grab my thigh, halting me. "Stay, this is nice," he rasped low in my ear. My head hurt so bad that I didn't feel like tugging free, so I relaxed back into him. "Morning," I whispered and pushed my forehead int

  • The Long Road    Chapter 11

    Nova I sat on the bench outside my room with my collection of drinks to stick in the little refrigerator inside my room lying beside me and lit another cigarette. I was a complete mess. I wanted to call and make sure Brodie was looking out for my family, but I didn't want to listen to my family try to talk me into coming back home. This was Brodie, though, so I knew he would make sure they were safe. I was pretty sure no one had followed me, or they would have caught me at a gas station when I stopped for gas, and I had been looking. Nothing suspicious jumped out at me. I was still scared, though. I didn't think I would be getting much, if any, sleep for a while. It was much easier to sleep when Brodie was right outside my bedroom door, taking up the entire couch. That had to have been uncomfortable. Now, thinking back on it, I knew why he did it. He knew about Rob. I sighed and put out my cigarette. I had thought I would give them up, but now isn't the time wi

  • The Long Road    Chapter 10

    Brodie Wyatt had told me about Nova not taking their conversation well, but when I got out of the shower the following day to find her gone, I was pissed. I hadn't had one of the guys on her because I was in the house with her. I didn't think she'd bolt while I was taking a shower. I went to my phone and found her note. That's when I knew what made her desperate enough to leave. She still should have come to me, and that made me angry. I picked up the phone and called Wyatt to give him a heads up about what was going down, and he mentioned that she had been doing something on Cheryl's laptop and said that she might already have a job somewhere. I went to Nova's room, and the laptop was on her dresser, so I opened it and checked the history, but she had deleted it. It was a good thing I put a tracker on her car. It would take time if I had to wait on Tyson to retrieve the information. I looked around her room but didn't find anything except a box under her bed full of

  • The Long Road    Chapter 9

    I’ve decided on Oklahoma City and I'm using mom’s laptop to try to find a cheap place to stay. I might already have a job. The black escalade was gone when we left the funeral home and I haven’t seen it since. There hasn’t been any strangeness going on with Brodie and Wyatt, so it must have been my anxiety causing me to be suspicious. They had no idea about Rob or Wyatt would be in my face about it. I still haven’t contacted Rob. I don’t have it in me to deal with him and I want to enjoy my time away from him and not have him ruining it. It has been days now of having my family and soaking in every fabulous moment of it. It felt so good that I never wanted to leave. But, of course, Brodie was always hanging around. He went to work but would constantly be dropping in, and he spent every night on the couch. I still wasn’t comfortable with it simply because it made me so happy. Too safe physically yet not safe at all emotionally. I knew better than to like i

  • The Long Road    Chapter 8

    I woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, so I brushed my teeth and made my way to the kitchen. Momma was sitting at the island with Ms. Patty, and Brodie was at the stove making french toast and bacon. "Nova! It's so good you're home, dear. Your mom has missed you so." Ms.Patty hugged me and kissed my cheek. "So good to finally have you both home." "Yes, Brodie told me he moved back. That's wonderful." I smiled and kissed her cheek. Then made my way to momma and gave her a squeeze and kiss. "I told him I was perfectly capable of making breakfast in my kitchen, but he ordered me to sit like I'm one of his commandos." Momma shook her head and smiled. "Comando's?" I was puzzled. "Those handsome security men that work with him. If I were young again, I would snatch one up!" "Momma!" I busted out laughing. "You laugh but wait until you get a gander at one," she raised a brow then wiggled it. I h

  • The Long Road    Chapter 7

    I had climbed into bed with momma, and we talked in whispers about Grams; then I had made her a plate, and she ate a little bit. She perked up a little seeing me again after two years, and that made me feel guilty that I had not done this sooner. I should have just left like I did today and came to see my family. I put on a set of joggers and a shirt and blow-dried my hair. Spending so much time thinking and fantasizing about Brodie is vastly different than having him here and all up in my space. Also, sleeping under the same roof. Nothing for it but to barrel through it. So left my room to meet Mr. Bossy on the porch. Brodie was on the porch swing again and patted the space beside him when I walked out on the porch. I ignored it and sat in one of the chairs instead. He smiled and shook his head, then twisted the top off a beer and handed it to me. "How have you been?" he asked conversationally. "Great, and you?" Lies, I'd probably be tell

  • The Long Road    Chapter 6

    Brodie Seeing her after so many years was a shock to my system even though Wyatt had told me she was coming, and I knew she wouldn't be able to run and hide from me this time. I wasn't prepared for the enormity of the feelings it would stir up. We've got to have a talk and put it behind us, and that's going to happen before she leaves. We're family, and now that I'm living in the town, we need to hash it out, move on from the past. I'd fucked up. I knew it, but she's married now, and I can't turn back the wheels of time. Damn, she's still beautiful. She looks even better with age. She's twenty- eight now, and I'm thirty. It doesn't seem even seem possible. I walk out to her car with Wyatt to bring her bags in and see her purse and phone lying in the front passenger seat, so I open the driver's side and sit down to gather them up. I notice a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, and the car stinks of cigarettes. "Hey Wyatt, when d

  • The Long Road    Chapter 5

    Wyatt's voice telling me Grams had passed, still ringing in my ears, and all I could think about was getting to my mom. We were a tight-knit family, and mom and gram had been very close. I couldn't imagine losing my mom and what my mother must be going through right now. It's now three o'clock in the morning, and Rob is agitated and yelling because he says we don't have the money for me to take off of work and run to my family. So much for a bit of sympathy that I had just lost my Grams. My Grams was the shit. I loved the mess out of that lady, and knowing I'd never have another chat with her on the porch with a glass of her delicious sweet tea was tearing me up. Grams, conversations, and tea were life-changing. The woman had lived and learned, and she always had a wise piece of advice to impart. After arguing that I needed to be with my family and him getting angrier and angrier then lapsing into his condescending voice like I'm a child and I just don't

  • The Long Road    Chapter 4

    It's been a few weeks since Sharky's date night, and Rob has finally found a new job. He's very excited about it. This job is perfect for him, he says. Rob is, of course, the absolute best at it, and they can already see this and are talking about moving him up. I keep the eye roll on the inside and agree that this will be perfect for him. Something else about Rob is that he is always the best at everything, even when he's not. You agree and get on with it. No one else knows what he knows, and they're all a bunch of idiots. Rob starts to rant about the old boss and how stupid he was to let him get away, and I agree that that wasn't a smart move on his part while my eyeball twitches, but I get it under control. Thankfully there's a game on, and Rob gets sucked into it. I take a blanket out to the small balcony and curl up in a chair to watch the small section of the gulf coast off in the distance. I love the smell of the ocean. It smells like home and me

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status