Because he could

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He beat her, he told her because she was looking at another man. And that he loved her so much, it made him fearful and crazy to think he might lose her. He told her that t wouldn't happen again. But it did. Since the real reason he beat her was because...he could.

He beat her, he said because she was a poor housekeeper. And this reflected badly on him. And if she would just change her slovenly ways, he wouldn't have to beat her. But the real reason he beat her was because...he could.

He beat her, he said because the children cried. And after working all day he felt she should be able to keep them quiet. And if she kept better control of them, beating wouldn't be necessary. But the real reason he beat her was because...he could.

He beat her, he told her because he was upset, things were going bad at work. And that she should understand that he was under great pressure. And further, if he didn't love her and want so much for her, he wouldn't beat her at all. But, the real reason he beat her was because...he could.

He beat her, he told her because she wasn't pretty anymore. And that she had let herself go. And the excuses went on and on. "The dog died, the dish ran away with the spoon, the Red Sox lost the pennant." But the real reason he beat her was because...he could.

The reason she took his beatings was because, at first, she loved him and believed he loved her. Then she believed that he beat her because she deserved to be beaten. She also let him beat her because she was used to living in fear. And finally, she let him beat her because she couldn't, wouldn't, why life is she believed he would beat her, just because he could....?