A year ago I married a man that I thought would be the perfect mate. My first marriage had failed because my husband had a gambling problem and sent us into bankruptcy. It took 12 years for me to recover financially and emotionally. I bought a small house in the city and tried an internet dating service. In the first couple weeks, Charlie and I found each other. After 8 months, we met face to face and then two months later became engaged. After a month of engagement when we'd known each 11 months we married.

Neither of us have children and my biological clock was ticking so we immediately set out to get pregnant. We have a 9 month old daughter and I am 4 months into a second pregnancy. Due to the baby, I do not currently work. However, I keep an immaculate house, do all the errands, and make sure that Charlie has a hot dinner on the table when he comes home.

It should be paradise. Except Charlie has turned into a wimp. A neighbor's son shot our dog with a BB gun and Charlie refused to confront the man about the incident. A few night's later the neighbors on the other side had a loud party that kept us up until 4 AM. Charlie refused to go ask them to keep it down a little. I finally went over and got cursed out. When I told Charlie, he shrugged. Then, a couple weeks ago, a noise woke me up. It sounded like someone walking in our house. I shook Charlie awake and told him. He rolled over and went to sleep. I woke him again as the footsteps seemed to come upstairs. He said to check it out myself. Terrified the intruder was headed for my daughter's room, I did. I got 4 steps into the hall when a heavy hand hit me across the face, knocking me down the stairs. Then the intruder rushed past me and out the open door into the night. My ankle, nose and jaw were broken and I couldn't get up or do more than cry out feebily, but Charlie didn't hear. I lay there for hours until our baby started crying. Then I dragged myself to the phone and dialed 911.

When the police came, they thought Charlie had done it to me. I was tempted to allow them to take him away as a punishment for his cowardice. But I didn't. Instead, when I got home from the hospital, I asked him to leave. He looked so hurt as he packed an overnight bag.

I just figure my kids and I are better off alone if he can't be a real man.