Letter To The Editor: Taking Away My Quiet Night

The following commentary is from a subscriber to Antelope Valley News.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Taking Away My Quiet Night

She was bleeding. Yes, she was bleeding—my next-door neighbor was hitting her!

It was a quiet night, and I was watching my soap opera. During commercials, I always mute on the television because I cannot stand them and do not want to memorize them. That evening, I heard my next-door neighbor screaming. Although this was not the first time he had raised his voice, it was the first time I felt compelled to respond. Outraged by the repeated yelling, especially since it was already 9 PM, I slammed my hand against the wall three times, hoping to make my frustration clear. I returned to my show, but around 10 PM, I heard a woman screaming. I instantly muted my television. Over the silence, I could clearly hear her calling for help, while my neighbor cursed at her. I quickly grabbed my jacket and shoes, then ran to my neighbor’s apartment. I pounded on the screen door, shouting for him to open. He yelled back, telling me to leave—that everything was fine—but the woman’s desperate cries for help continued in the background. I kept banging on the door until he finally opened it, insisting I go away. Despite his protests, the woman managed to come to the door, screaming for help. I took her by the arm and walked her away from the senior apartment as he slammed the door behind us. She begged me to call the police. Holding her with one hand, I dialed 911 with the other. The operator kept asking me to stop screaming so she could understand what I was saying, but I could not calm down. I noticed another neighbor outside, so I brought the injured woman over and handed him the phone, telling him they needed directions. While I helped the woman—who repeatedly claimed she was hurt until she finally collapsed—he talked to the operator. I sat beside her, holding her hand, overwhelmed by memories of the times when my own husband had hit me.

The police and paramedics arrived soon after. She told them that she had fractures in her nose and jaw and was bleeding heavily. A police officer interviewed me, asking for my name and phone number. I returned to my apartment, found my identification, and gave it to him. As he left, I watched the officers go down the stairs and called out, asking why they had not arrested my neighbor. They replied that they needed more information about the incident.

This is a senior citizens apartment complex. I am a seventy year old retired teacher and my quiet night was taken away from me! By then, it was already 11 PM. It was shocking to me that the person who caused harm to the woman was not arrested. It seemed incredible that he could do something so terrible and get away with it. If you were attacked and hurt while walking on the street, people nearby would come to your aid, and there is a chance that the perpetrator could be apprehended. What factors contribute to a lack of accountability for violent actions by partners or spouses in your community?

Can someone please explain why this happens?

Maria Morales

Teacher and Author