tearing a piece off in the process, but when his hand reached up to pin mine down I bit him. I bit down hard on his arm, he cursed at me but I was able to free myself and run out of the door. I made it as far as the driveway and started screaming for help, nobody was outside, nobody came.” She was sobbing uncontrollably now, trying to catch her breath.
“Chloe…” I plead, “Stop, I can’t…I can’t hear anymore.”
“I can taste it, Travis I can still taste his blood in my mouth. I can still feel his filthy hands, the way he smelled. It haunts me every day, Travis and that’s not even the worst of it.” She says as her body starts to shake slightly.
“There’s more? God Chloe, what else did he do to you?” I demand, I’m already fuming.
“I was so focused on screaming for help that I didn’t hear him come up behind me.” She shudders. “I-I don’t even know where he got it, or even what it was exactly…but-but something pierced my side.” She says as she gently lifts up her shirt to reveal a disfigurement, a long scar about 6 inches. I don’t say anything at first, instead I carefully reach down and rub my fingers over it. She pulls away for a second and then relaxes into my touch. This astounding, damaged woman has just poured her heart out to me, revealed her deepest secret to me and she actually looks scared, like I’m going to be the one to run. It breaks my heart and I don’t deserve her.
“I am so, so sorry you had to go through all that Chloe…I-I don’t even know what to say,” I apologize.
“Yeah, I know. I wish that was all. Once I was on the ground, blood pooling up beside me, he starting kicking me; he told me my life would be over. He wouldn’t stop, I’m guessing sound of the sirens must have spooked him because it was the only sound I heard as he took off. My dad was the first responder, he’s the one that found me.” She says shaking her head. “It’s all my fault, Travis. Everything is all my fault. My dad lost his job and his mind.”
“No…no Chloe, none of this is your fault. Really Chloe, look at me,” I say as I force her eyes to meet mine. “You are not to blame for that asshole’s actions. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She’s bawling now, my arms surround her; her pain and fear overwhelm me. There’s no way I’m ever letting this girl go.
“Chloe, I-I know I’m going to regret asking this…but what does all that have to do with why you were so upset earlier? What made you run to me?”
“He found me, he’s here…it’s the only explanation for what’s been happening. I-I don’t know how, he should be in prison,” She says.
“Who found you? Cole? You’ve seen him? Did he hurt you?”
I wait in silence as all she reveals to me soaks in. At first I’m angry that she’s been keeping all this from me, but then I look into those eyes and see her fear. I hadn’t realize that my arms were still not holding her until her hand reaches out and softly touches my shoulder. My head snaps up and her eyes meet mine.
“Don’t Chloe,” I shake my head and scoop her into my lap. “Don’t try to console me, I’m the one that should be comforting you,” I kiss her.
“I’m sorry, I-just…you looked so, so…I don’t know mad at me,” She explains.
“Christ, Chloe…no, no I’m not mad at you. I’m angry, furious even but not at you, never at you. Look Chloe I-I’m going to be honest with you I don’t really know what to do right now. Part of me wants to storm out that door and find this creep and beat him within an inch of his life, but the other part desires to pick you up and carry you to my bed and shower you with so much love that you are forced to forget about this appalling nightmare that you’ve been living with.”
“Travis, make me forget,” She
“Chloe…” I plead, “Stop, I can’t…I can’t hear anymore.”
“I can taste it, Travis I can still taste his blood in my mouth. I can still feel his filthy hands, the way he smelled. It haunts me every day, Travis and that’s not even the worst of it.” She says as her body starts to shake slightly.
“There’s more? God Chloe, what else did he do to you?” I demand, I’m already fuming.
“I was so focused on screaming for help that I didn’t hear him come up behind me.” She shudders. “I-I don’t even know where he got it, or even what it was exactly…but-but something pierced my side.” She says as she gently lifts up her shirt to reveal a disfigurement, a long scar about 6 inches. I don’t say anything at first, instead I carefully reach down and rub my fingers over it. She pulls away for a second and then relaxes into my touch. This astounding, damaged woman has just poured her heart out to me, revealed her deepest secret to me and she actually looks scared, like I’m going to be the one to run. It breaks my heart and I don’t deserve her.
“I am so, so sorry you had to go through all that Chloe…I-I don’t even know what to say,” I apologize.
“Yeah, I know. I wish that was all. Once I was on the ground, blood pooling up beside me, he starting kicking me; he told me my life would be over. He wouldn’t stop, I’m guessing sound of the sirens must have spooked him because it was the only sound I heard as he took off. My dad was the first responder, he’s the one that found me.” She says shaking her head. “It’s all my fault, Travis. Everything is all my fault. My dad lost his job and his mind.”
“No…no Chloe, none of this is your fault. Really Chloe, look at me,” I say as I force her eyes to meet mine. “You are not to blame for that asshole’s actions. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She’s bawling now, my arms surround her; her pain and fear overwhelm me. There’s no way I’m ever letting this girl go.
“Chloe, I-I know I’m going to regret asking this…but what does all that have to do with why you were so upset earlier? What made you run to me?”
“He found me, he’s here…it’s the only explanation for what’s been happening. I-I don’t know how, he should be in prison,” She says.
“Who found you? Cole? You’ve seen him? Did he hurt you?”
I wait in silence as all she reveals to me soaks in. At first I’m angry that she’s been keeping all this from me, but then I look into those eyes and see her fear. I hadn’t realize that my arms were still not holding her until her hand reaches out and softly touches my shoulder. My head snaps up and her eyes meet mine.
“Don’t Chloe,” I shake my head and scoop her into my lap. “Don’t try to console me, I’m the one that should be comforting you,” I kiss her.
“I’m sorry, I-just…you looked so, so…I don’t know mad at me,” She explains.
“Christ, Chloe…no, no I’m not mad at you. I’m angry, furious even but not at you, never at you. Look Chloe I-I’m going to be honest with you I don’t really know what to do right now. Part of me wants to storm out that door and find this creep and beat him within an inch of his life, but the other part desires to pick you up and carry you to my bed and shower you with so much love that you are forced to forget about this appalling nightmare that you’ve been living with.”
“Travis, make me forget,” She
Similar Books
