Friends in crime

"My husband hits me." Ellen said suddenly while we were all out having dinner. 

"I am sorry, but did I get that right? Did you say that your husband hits you?" I asked, already feeling anger take a hold of me. 

"He hits me, Girls! He hits me hard." Ellen repeated, breaking into tears as Mila and Martha held her. 

"How long has this been going on for, Ellen?" Sophia asked, sounding irredeemably angry. She and I were both teh protectors of our friendship group. We were the ones ready at any time to fight to the death for our other friends. 

"From the first day. He said something funny and I laughed, and he hit me hard in the belly for daring to laugh to his face." Ellen narrated painfully. "I have had three miscarriages since we got married, and I am afraid that he will beat my womb out of my body someday soon. Please, help me, girls, help me!" Ellen shouted, as her te