Rape me.Beat me.Kill me.
In the grand scheme of things, I guess what I got is much better than what could've happened.None of them were great choices, but maybe this was the lesser of the evils.
Yay me.I might live with PTSD for the rest of my life, but at least I have a life to live.
The water runs cold, and I know I've been in here too long.It's not even lukewarm.It's moved from hot, to lukewarm, and now it's almost freezing.I know I have to get out.It takes everything I have to stand up, and shut the shower off.
"Are you still here?"I ask softly, half expecting Darren to be gone.
"I've got your towel waiting on you.I know you've got to be cold."
My teeth are chattering, and I'm not sure if it's because I am cold, or if I'm having a delayed reaction to everything that's happened tonight.Opening the shower curtain, I put my arm in front of my breasts, and then place a hand in front of my womanhood, not sure I want him to be able to see all that right now.But I shouldn't have worried.He holds the towel open, and his gaze never leaves my face as he wraps me up in it."Thank you."
He holds me tight as he helps me out of the shower."There are some clothes over there for you.Mom brought you some that you should be able to fit in with no problem.I brought one of my hoodies in here for you.Whatever you want to wear."
I nod."Thank you," I say again, just because I don't know how else to react.What do you say to the man you ran too because you didn't know where else to go?What do you say to the man who didn't bat an eyelash twice when you showed up in the middle of the night with a broken face, and a bruised body?Especially the man who has his toddler daughter inside, and never once made you feel like you were a problem?
"Stop thanking me."Now that he's got the towel wrapped around my body, he's not releasing me."Just let me hold you for a second.Just so that I know you're okay."
I don't tell him how much I need that, too.Instead, I let him think that I'm doing it for him, and not the other way around."Darren?"
"Yeah, babe?"
He's never called me anything other than Macie before, and I can't help but get a little clench in my stomach at the name."Do you think they'll find him?"
"There's a good chance.I mean there's going to be video, along with the investigation on who the man is your patient got a restraining order against.I'd say it's pretty cut and dry.The problem will be if he doesn't live around here."
I don't say anything, I just hold onto him, my arms looped around his waist."Is it bad that I'm nervous about going to work again?"
"No."He smears his lips against my forehead, palming my hair and brushing it back from my face."It's a perfectly normal reaction.In fact you should report this to the hospital.They need to make a report on it, just in case he does this to someone again, or if he shows up wanting to hurt you for a second time."
Shuddering, I dig my fingers into his shirt."I don't want to think about that."
"Neither do I, but it's a fact of the matter that many people like that return to the scene of the crime.If he's hurt you once, he may want to do it again."
Fear clutches at my stomach."I guess when I get up in the morning, I'll need to call my supervisor."
"Are you supposed to work tomorrow?"
"No, I'm off for the next two days."I don't think I've ever been more thankful than I am this moment for the gap in the schedule.I don't think I'd be able to go there today if I had to.
"Good, you can stay here if you want," he offers.
I don't know who is more surprised at that.Him or me."Darren," I sigh."You have your daughter here.What if the person who hurt me decides to come here?What if they followed me?I can't put you and her in danger.I shouldn't have come here in the first place."
"No, you should always come here," he says the words forcefully so that there's no doubt in them, so that I know he means them."If you need someone to take care of you, I'm that guy."
I'm a woman who believes I can do almost anything a man can do, I believe that anything I put my mind to, I can achieve, but those words also make something inside of me warm and gooey."Thank you, but if it looks like it's going to be not safe for Nicole, or you, please tell me, and I'll leave."
"You ain't leavin' here."
I almost want to laugh at the way his southern accent comes out.I've noticed it a few times.When he's particularly feeling passionate about something, or he's had a few drinks, it comes out way more than it normally does."What if I want to?"I tease him.
"Well I mean, I'm not keeping you here against your will.I'm not a complete asshole, but you only have to leave if you want to, Macie.I'm not kicking you out.Regardless of what you have may have heard about me, I can protect you."
"I've heard nothing less than that."I swallow roughly as his dark eyes meet mine."The reason I came here is because I feel safe with you.I didn't really think of any other place to go."
"Good, I don't want you to search out anyone else.If you need help, I want to be that person for you."
