Beth's Breaking Point (Group 4)

You decided to file for divorce from Chad. You can't take the abuse anymore. While in the hospital you begin to look for a lawyer, but you have to be sneaky about it because if Chad finds out the whole plan will crumble. Do you continue with your plan of action or do you go back to reconsider your options? [[Meet with the lawyer]] [[The beginning]] [[The Start]]

You have made up her mind. You are going to run away. In the hospital you begin to formulate your plan on how you are going to escape. What will you need? Where will you go? You find a few options, you could go to a shelter for abused and battered women, go stay with your mom for a bit, or take the next bus out of the city. Do you get scared and reconsider your options or do you continue? [[Where are you going?]] [[The beginning]] [[The Start]]

You have decided to stay with Chad. While in the hospital Chad came to visit you. He brought you flowers and a beautiful necklace. Chad promised he would never do it again. You love Chad and thinks about your kids and the life you have built together. You are weary of Chad's promises, but love him too much to leave. [[What's next?]] [[The Start]]

You have decided to file for divorce and meet with a lawyer you found online while in the hospital. You have to be sneaky! Beth schedules her meeting with the lawyer mid day while Chad is at work. Once Beth arrives the lawyer gets straight to the point and begins asking questions about her relationship. Beth is careful when chosing her words and does not let it slip that Chad is abusive. The lawyer beings by asking if there was a prenup. Did you sign the prenup? [[Yes I did sign one]] [[No I didn't sign one]] [[The Start]]

You are sticking to your guns and wants to continue planning your escape, but where will you go? [[To the shelter]] [[To her mom's house]] [[To the bus station]] [[The Start]]

You decide to stay with Chad. He loves you and promised not to do it again. BUT he does. Chad continues his manipulative ways and has gotten even more controlling. Chad's abuse is more frequent and intense than before the hospital. He claims it is from stress at work and after the hospital incident people began to ask questions. Beth feels isolated and doesn't know what to do? Does she go back to her options she was considering in the hospital or does she stay and hope it gets better? [[The beginning]] [[Hope it gets better]] [[The Start]]

You signed the prenup, but you didn't have a lawyer help you read it over so you are unsure of what is in it. You were so excited to begin your life with Chad that you never thought to look over the fine print. By having the lawyer investigate what was in the prenup you risk the chance of being caught. Do you continue down this road or do you go back to reconsider your options? [[Let's Keep Going]] [[The beginning]] [[The Start]]

Welcome to Beth's Breaking point. In this game you will be playing Beth who is a 32 year old woman. You were recently admitted into the hospital covered in bruises and several lacerations. Continue with the story to discover how you ended up in the hospital and how you are going to go on with your life. Every decision you make will alter Beth's life in some way so chose wisely. [[Beth's Back Story]]

One day you are admitted into the hospital after Chad had abused you. This wasn't the first time he abused you, but it was the first time he had hurt you so badly that you had to go to the hospital. You have been experiencing mild abuse since you and Chad started dating sixteen years ago. You are unable to support yourself and the kids financially without Chad, but you are beginning to think you need to get out of the relationship. Begin the journey here by deciding what Beth's next move is once she is out of the hospital. Will you make the right choice? [[Divorce]] [[Run Away]] [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

Are you sure you didn't sign a prenup? Did you read every paper Chad asked you to sign? [[Yes I did sign one]] [[The Start]]

You are willing to take the risk. You asked the lawyer to look into the matter carefully and has full confidence he won't alert Chad of your plan. [[The next step]] [[The Start]]

The shelter has a few opening left, but the shelter doesn't allow children. Your kids would either have to stay with their father or go to a separate shelter. You aren't ready to give up yet so do you go back explore a different route? Can you leave your kids with Chad? Or should you bring them to the other shelter? [[Where are you going?]] [[Bring the kids]] [[Leave them with their dad]] [[The Start]]

You have decided to stay with your mom for a while. Your mom really likes Chad and is concerned about your decision. You are worried your mom will tell Chad where you are so they can "work it out". Your mom also cannot affored to house both you and your two kids. If you decide to stay with your mom you have to either leave the kids with their dad or find somewhere else to go. Do you leave your kids with Chad or do you find somewhere else to go? [[Where are you going?]] [[Leave them with their dad]] [[Beg her mom to keep the kids]] [[The Start]]

You have decided to go to the bus station and take it from there. The only problem is, you don't have enough money to buy a ticket for yourself and your two kids. Chad controls the finances so you can't ask him for money and you have no job. Do you try to find a job to save enough money for three tickets, but extend your time with Chad? Will you leave the kids? Or do you look into other options? [[Leave them with their dad]] [[Where are you going?]] [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

You can't afford to leave with your kids, but you can't stand the thought of leaving them. You decide to stay with Chad and hope it gets better. [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

You can't bare the thought of leaving the kids with Chad. You decide to stay with Chad for the time being and reconsider your options. [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

Your mom agrees to let them live there for the time being, but only for a month or two. You spend those few months looking into your options and have narrowed it down. You have decided you either need to cut Chad off completely or go back. You really miss Chad and being a family, but you also have had time to think away from Chad. [[Stay with Chad]] [[Divorce]] [[The Start]]

You believe in your realtionship with Chad and hope after this stressful time at work that Chad will go back to the sweetheart he once was when you first met. [[Is it better yet?]] [[The Start]]

The lawyer went over the prenup and it stipulates that you are not entitled to any alomony. This means you have very little money to pay the lawyer and will have no job or money after the divorce. Is it time to give up on the idea of divorce and stay? Or do you want to keep going? [[Continue with the divorce]] [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

No. The abuse continues so you decide to document the abuse in a journal you keep hidden in the house. You hope to one day get out and away from Chad, but you need evidence. Chad being on the police force is making it extremely difficult for you to report so you need to be prepared. [[Compiling evidence]] [[The Start]]

After a few months of writing down everything that happens you decide you need to make a move. You have decided to finally tell Chad you are leaving him. You feel you have compiled enough evidence to have a strong case for a restraining order. [[Tell Chad]] [[The Start]]

Later that night, once Chad has arrived home from work, you tell him you are done. You have already packed your bags and sent the kids to your moms. You keep it short and simple, you just want to finally get out. Once Chad hears the news he loses it. Chad grabs your wrist and refuses to let go until you agree to stay. Do you fight, stay, or try to talk it out with Chad? [[Fight]] [[Stay again]] [[Talk it out]] [[The Start]]

You shove Chad away from you and slap him. You can see the anger in Chad's eyes, you try to run to the bedroom and lock the door. You know where Chad's gun is in the bedroom. Do you run for the gun or try to hide? [[Hide]] [[Go for the gun]] [[The Start]]

You agree to stay and work on your marriage. Chad is still in a fit of rage and takes all his anger out on you. You lose hope of living a better life and escaping. Chad is not stopping and you are losing conciousness. [[What happened?]] [[The Start]]

You try to talk to Chad, but it just turns into a screaming match. Things escalate and Chad begins to abuse you again. Suddenly there is a knock at the door. [[Who is at the door?]] [[The Start]]

You grab the gun and hide in the closet. You can hear his footsteps approaching. The door begins to open, you raise the gun and... [[What did she do?]] [[The Start]]

You hide in the closet and do your best to keep quiet. You can hear Chad getting closer. The closet door begins to open and... [[What's behind the door?]] [[The Start]]

Chad is standing there with his gun. He fires one shot. [[What happened?]] [[The Start]]

You died, Chad killed you. Chad went to trial and was convicted of first degree homicide. You were one of the many victims of abuse to lose your life. Your mom took the kids in, but they are now living without both their parents. [[The Start]]

You shot Chad. You felt like it was her only option. [[What will happen to Beth?]] [[The Start]]

You go to trial, but isn't convicted. The judge ruled in favor of self defense. But your kids swear they will never forgive you. You are finally free of Chad, but you are alone. [[The Start]]

The police are at the door. One of the neighbors must have called after hearing the screaming. Chad knows the cops and begins to explain the situation. Chad explains that you fell down the stairs and he was shouting from the top of the stairs at you to make sure you were okay. The cops look at you to confirm this story. Do you go along with the story or do you speak up? [[Goes along with the story]] [[Speak up]] [[The Start]]

You go along with Chad's story and the cops leave. Chad is embarrassed and infuriated. His anger only grows with every word Beth says. Chad begins to black out with anger and... [[What happened?]] [[The Start]]

You risk it all and decide to tell the cops what really happened. You give them the journal you have been keeping. They take both you and Chad to the station. Later on the case goes to trial. Chad has a lot of people on his side, including many on the case. The trial comes to an end and the verdict is... [[What is the verdict?]] [[The Start]]

Chad is found guilty of domestic violence. You are granted a restraining order against Chad. BUT the kids are still able to live with Chad because they deemed it a safe household for the kids. This makes it extremely difficult for you to see the kids. And without any money of your own you are back to living with your mom. [[The Start]]

The lawyer tells you that it would be hard for any judge to grant a single mother with no job, college education, or money custody of her kids. You risk the chance of losing custody of your kids if you continue to fight. Should you stay with Chad or proceed? [[Proceed]] [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

The lawyer informs you that he will help you and if you win your case he will take 50% of your winnings as a fee. [[Take the chance]] [[Stay with Chad]] [[The Start]]

You go through with the divorce which was open and shut. You were granted a lump some of 10,000 dollars and visitation with your kids once a week. The lawyer took 50% of your money. You are left with 5,000 dollars to get a place to live and start a job that doesn't require a college degree. You often think about going back to Chad to have financial security and see your kids more than once a week. [[Stay with Chad]] [[Live on your own]] [[The Start]]

You continue to live on your own. You were unable to find a job so you couldn't afford a place to live. You move in with her mother and continue to see your kids only once a week. [[The Start]]

You are married to your high school sweetheart, Chad, and have two kids with him. You are a stay at home mom while Chad is the captain of the police department. While the kids are at school you tidy the house and may ocasionally go visit some of yours and Chad's neighborhood friends. You and Chad's children, Susie who is six and Tommy who is ten, love and adore their mom, but both consider their dad their favorite. You and Chad have built quite a life together. Chad is well known and well liked around the city and all their neighbors admire their perfect family. But is their life really all that perfect? [[The beginning]] [[The Start]]