title: Sweetie's Scars:  A Journey of Hurt, Hope, and Healing
author: Sharon Keel McMahon
description: Sharon and Bruce McMahon have rescued and loved dogs, cats, horses and birds throughout their marriage of 37 years. Sharon has pursued a career more than 30 years in non-profit management and has now retired hoping to spend more time in promoting animal rescue efforts, writing for publication, and spending more time with both human and furry family members!
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  ## **Don't Say A Word**
  
  
  
  
  
  ##### **Barbara Freethy**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  _To the Fog City Divas, Carol Grace, Diana Dempsey,_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Candice Hern, Barbara McMahon, Kate Moore and  _ _honorary Diva Lynn Hanna,_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _who always offer support, friendship, great ideas and lots of chocolate_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ##
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## **Prologue**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  ### **25 years earlier**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      She took her bow with the other dancers, tears pressing against her lids, but she couldn't let those tears slip down her cheeks. No one could know that this night was different from any other. Too many people were watching her. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      As the curtain came down one last time, she ran off the stage into the arms of her husband, her lover, the man with whom she would take the greatest risk of her life. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      He met the question in her eyes with a reassuring smile. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      She wanted to 