Chapter 26 Summary

Paula begs the reader to "Ask me." She knows that often the evidence of Charlo's abuse was plastered all over her face, yet no one would ever ask what had happened, or who had hurt her. Ironically, her horrible bruises made her invisible to others, who would immediately look away when they saw her face. Charlo would always accompany her to the hospital, and he would never walk away for long enough for Paula to tell the doctors the truth about what had happened. No one would ever look close enough to recognize the obvious signs of extreme physical abuse, but would instead always conclude that she was such a drunk that she was always falling down, and that Charlo was a good man to put up with her. Paula sometimes saw other women with the same injuries and excuses that she had...