One woman's courageous journey beyond the horror of domestic abuse ...into the clear light of awareness and self determination. A New Zealand story based on fact. "Footsteps crunched across the gravel and stopped at the back door. Cissy watched the door open partially, one strong brown hand gripped the door frame, the other wrapped around the edge of the door as he braced himself to take his boots off. She stared at the long fingers capable of so much, thought of how they trembled with tenderness as he stroked the girls' hair while they slept; slid with a lover's velvet delicacy along her chin to lift her face as he kissed her. Other times they would be vice-like, cruel, ruthlessly determined as he forced her legs apart. She never knew what sort of night it was going to be. He grunted as he toed first one boot, then the other off against the edge of the step. Cissy's breath caught as his hands dropped and the door swung fully open. She would know when she saw his eyes."