She nods, but there’s doubt in her eyes.
‘Before we know it, Jo will be back,’ I say, trying to sound confident.
‘Yes,’ she murmurs, but the flicker of fear behind her gaze lingers.
I finally convince her to leave. Then, I check on Joel. He’s fast asleep, curled under his covers, safe for now.
Soon, this will be over.
It has to be.
It has to be because if it isn’t, I have no idea what I’ll do.
***
Joanna
I’m sitting on the couch when he walks in. It’s not meal time, and my heart starts to thud against my chest. Why is he here?
Oh my God, he’s going to rape me.I shrink back on the sofa. Why else would he come down at an unexpected time? With shaking hands, I pull my dress over my knees.
‘I just need to take a photo of you,’ he says. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’
What kind of photo?‘A photo?’ I repeat.
‘To prove…’ He stumbles, can’t finish the sentence.
‘I’m alive?’ I say.
He nods.
‘No,’ I say stubbornly, pulling my legs beneath me.Why should I make it fucking easy for him?
‘It won’t take long,’ he says, and I sense he is more uncomfortable than I am.
So I sit up straight, with one leg crossed over the other. ‘Take it,’ I say.
For a moment he stares at me, and then, as if remembering something, he pulls a newspaper from his back pocket.
‘You need to hold this.’
I snatch the newspaper, and he quickly takes the photos. Our eyes make contact, and he turns away.
The door closes behind him, and I let out a long breath of relief.
Chapter Fifteen
Daniel
Nicola’s arrival this morning brings a wave of relief.
After yesterday’s chaos, I have been half expecting her not to turn up, but she walks in and hangs up her coat and bag as if nothing has happened. I force a smile, determined to keep things as normal as possible.
‘Good morning,’ I say.
‘Morning,’ Nicola replies.
I take a deep breath.
