"I'll miss you,"  Trish pouted as she stood in front of the tiny Ford Escort packed full of boxes.

Molly's lower lip quivered as she looked at her.  "I know, I'll miss you too, but I have to go.  I've saved for this for three years now.  I...I want something better than this little town,"

Trish hugged her best friend.  "I know sweetie."  She pulled back.  "Now, you don't forget to call and write and all of that, ok?"

Molly nodded, trying to brush away her tears as she drove off, driving off to her new life, the college education she had saved for by working at the general store since she had graduated high school, and hopefully, a career that would keep her from having to go back to that rural town.

***

"Can I get...uhm...can I just get a beer?"  Trish muttered.  She sat slumped at the counter of the local bar.  Only a week since Molly had left and she was already miserable.  Not to mention everything else that was going wrong...

The bartender handed her the drink and moved on to serve the next customer.  Meanwhile, a man slid into the seat next to Trish and leaned down to look in her eyes.  "Something wrong, kid?"

Trish sighed.  "My best friend left, my mom's sick, and I'm probably going to lose my job."  The young woman sniffled.  "So yeah, lots of things are wrong."

The man clucked his tongue in sympathy.  "Sorry to hear that."  He touched her arm gently.  "I'm Vince."

Trish glanced up at him and finally the familiar voice clicked.  It was Vince McMahon, one of the wealthiest guys in the town.  He owned the general store, where the whole town shopped.  Trish straighten up and pulled her top down just the slightest bit.  "Hi Vince.  I'm Trish...."

And so it began.

***

"What the HELL is wrong with you???"  The yell was loud, it could be heard for blocks around the house.

Trish tried to keep her tears blinked back.  "I...I thought you wanted me to clean the curtains...."

Vince's hand struck quickly, knocking Trish to the floor.  "You imbecile!  I told you to TAKE them to be cleaned, not try and clean them yourself.  Now they're ruined, because of your stupidity."  He walked away, but not before aiming a sharp kick for Trish's side.

That was how their marriage went.  Trish would do something to try and make Vince happy, Vince would get angry, Trish would get beaten.  It proceeded like that for months before Trish finally said something to the police.  They issued a restraining order, but the police have a surprisingly small amount of power against the wealthy...

"Do you know how this made me look?"  Vince's voice was a soft whisper, it was almost a strain to hear him over the labored breathing of Trish.  She was bleeding heavily from her mouth and nose, curled up on the floor.  Vince had gotten a  good shot to her face with a lamp.  "Do you know how it looks when a man of my status gets called into court because his wife is a whiny bitch?"

Trish could only sob, until finally she passed out from fear and pain.

***

"Trish?  Trishy, wake up, please..."  The soft voice was more soothing than any Trish had heard in months.  She struggled to open her eyes and was greeted by blond hair and bright blue eyes, ones that usually sparkled with joy.  Now, they were red with tears.  "Trish?"

"Molly."  Trish's voice was a dry rasp.  "Where am I?"

Molly wiped her eyes and clenched Trish's hand harder.  "Sweetie, you're in the hospital. You passed out and they had to bring you in."  Molly sniffled as she asked her next question.  "Why didn't you tell me?"

Trish licked her lips, trying to speak.  "I thought I could handle it.  I thought he loved me..."  Tears began to run down her face.  "And then I thought I could get away, but I couldn't...Molly, I don't know what to do..."

Molly reached over to hold her friend.  "Shhh....don't worry, I have a plan..."

***
Trish smiled weakly across the table at her husband.  He hadn't hit her since she had gotten out of the hospital.  Trish intended to make sure things stayed that way.

"Something tastes awful funny about this food..."  Vince was still tearing into his diner, despite his complaint.  Trish only smiled, watching as Vince finished his food and promptly fell asleep.

Molly crept out of the kitchen, picking up Vince's wrist and waiting.  After a few minutes, her face turned up in a bitter smile.  "No more pulse."

Trish could feel her knees get weak, and she had to sit down.  Finally free of him...once and for all.

***

Three years later, all was peaceful.  Molly had earned a business degree and was running the general store that had been left to Trish because she was Vince's widow.  The police had stopped by a few times, but no one suspected the two sweet little blondes could have had anything to do with Vince's death.  And the town's environment almost seemed lighter without his presence.

Trish and Molly were doing well on a personal level too.  After a few botched, meaningless relationships with a few botched, meaningless men, both Trish and Molly found their soulmates.

"You ever think about him?  Or feel guilty?"  Trish had the sheets puled up to her chin, and her eyes were bright in the dark of the night.

Molly kissed her forehead as she wrapped her arms around Trish's waist.  "No, not really.  It was the only way to get rid of him.  And we had to get rid of him."  Another kiss, this one on the lips and deeper.  "No one hurts my Trish."
 
"Goodbye Earl," The Dixie Chicks

Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends
All through their high school days
Both members of the 4H Club
Both active in the FFA
After graduation Mary Anne went out lookin' for a brand new world
Wanda looked all around this town and all she found was Earl
Well it wasn't two weeks after she got married that Wanda started getting abused
She put on dark glasses and long sleeved blouses and make-up to cover a bruise
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
She let the law take it from there
But Earl walked right through that restraining order
And put her in intensive care
Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atlanta
On a red eye midnight flight
She held Wanda's hand as they worked out a plan
And it didn't take 'em long to decide
That Earl had to die
Goodbye Earl
Those black-eyed peas
They tasted all right to me Earl
You're feelin' weak
Why don't you lay down and sleep Earl
Ain't it dark
Wrapped up in that tarp Earl?
The cops came by to bring Earl in
They searched the house high and low
Then they tipped their hats and said, "thank you ladies
if you hear from him let us know"
Well the weeks went by and
Spring turned to Summer
And Summer faded into Fall
And it turns out he was a missing person who nobody missed at all
So the girls bought some land and a roadside standout on Highway 109
They sell Tennessee ham and strawberry jam
and they don't lose any sleep at night 'cause Earl had to die
Goodbye Earl We need a break
Let's go out to the lake Earl
We'll pack a lunch And stuff you in the trunk Earl
Well is that all right Good
Let's go for a ride Earl hey