"Aling Nena, one can of sardines, please," Lisa said to the storeowner, one Sunday morning. "Could you probably just add that to our credit list? Carding earned just enough to pay the taxi ‘boundary’. I . . . I promise to pay you next week."

"You’ve been telling me that since last week," Aling Nena retorted. Then, noticing Lisa’s bruises, she said, "What’s that on your forehead, his ‘bonus’, huh?"

"Oh, this? No, I hit my head while cleaning the bathroom," Lisa replied.

"So, you’ve been hitting your head on a weekly basis? You ought to make career out of it. Ask that good-for-nothing husband of yours to pay you every time he hits you! Maybe then, you can earn enough money to pay off all your debts!" Aling Nena said sarcastically.

"Aling Nena, just give me the sardines, please. Carding will wake up anytime now," Lisa said worriedly.

"Lisa, child, why do you put up with him?" Aling Nena said almost in a whisper.

"He’s my husband. He . . . he needs me," Lisa said trying to sound convincing.

"He needs you for what? For a punching bag?" Aling Nena said as she slammed the can of sardines over the counter. Then, turning to Lisa, she cupped the young woman’s face with her hands, "Why do you put up with him?"

Lisa’s tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I’ve nowhere else to go. Every time I threaten to leave him, especially after he’s beaten me up, he said he’d kill himself."

"I think that is awful lot better than him killing you," Aling Nena tried to smile.

"But . . . but I couldn’t have that on my conscience," Lisa explained.

"Listen, kid. Very few men who boast of suicide ever actually do it," Aling Nena said trying to make Lisa understand. "Besides, even if he does, never ever think that it’s your fault. It will even help make this world an awful lot better place to live in, wouldn’t it?"

Their conversation was interrupted by someone shouting from the house across the street. "Lisa! Lisaaaaah!" It was Carding.

"He’s awake. I’ve got to hurry. Could you please add two eggs? Carding loves eggs for breakfast. I’ll pay you next week. Promise," Lisa said hurriedly, her voice trembling.

Aling Nena almost threw the eggs at her.

The first in the series of short stories I plan to write about Filipino women.  Lisa is just one character that some women may relate to and hopefully learn from her ordeals as well. I'm sure you've met someone like her.