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Chapter 19
Willow
I wake with a start. As I sit up, I look around, not recognizing where I am. The motel room has seen better days. The walls, once yellow, now have a brown hue. The bedspread is orange and brown and looked like it would have been popular in the '70s. The tv is a large, bulky model, and when I look toward the small bathroom to the right of the room, the tiles are a lime green. I listen carefully but only hear the drip from a faucet. I get up and go to the heavy drapes and peer carefully outside. I see Gavin's truck but no other cars. I don't recognize this place. I go to the door and try the knob, and it turns, but the door does not open, leading me to imagine Gavin has some lock rigged on the outside. I move to the small bathroom and notice the dripping is coming from the bathtub. The porcelain is old and dingy. There is one window, but you cannot see out of it because there is some adhesive frosting the view. I move the lock open and push the wood, but it won't move an inch.
I bend my knees and try to get a better angle to push, but nothing happens.
"Asshole," I yell in the tiny space.
I look into the dingy mirror, noticing the skin below my eye has turned black. But the worst pain is coming from the opposite side of my face near my temple. And when I reach up, it's tender with a red knot. I suspect he hit me with a rock. I go back into the room as Gavin opens the door carrying my purse and a plastic bag. He sees me immediately and smiles.
"Oh good, you're awake," Gavin says, closing the door behind him.
"Why did you bring me here?" I demand sitting on the bed and settling against the headboard.
He puts my purse on the small table that has two chairs tucked in. He comes closer, rooting through the bag and placing the bottled water on the bedside table. I silently glare at him. He reaches his fingers toward my face, and I slap his hand away.
"Don't push me, Willow," he warns.
"Really? What do you think you're doing?
"I know you hate it here. I didn't see it before, but I'm ready for us to start over," Gavin's eyes are so expressive, and he looks so determined to convince me. I still haven't caught up to what his goal is here.
"I don't know what you're talking about?"
"New York, I wasn't ready to leave when you went off to college. I thought you'd come back as soon as you realized that wasn't the place for you. I just knew you'd come back to me," he smiles and sits on the bed opposite me.
"I told you it was over. I never planned to come back!” I stress.
Gavin stands up, suddenly running his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. His eyes are comprehensive, and his energy has changed. I can feel the rage oozing out of him. I'm clearly at a loss as to what is going on in his head.
"It doesn't matter. We're here together now. We'll leave as soon as I have the last piece," Gavin states ominously.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. I suggest you let me leave now before this gets worse for you," I say as calmly and as firmly as I can.
He abruptly turns toward me and is on the bed in a flash, gripping me by the chin. His eyes are stormy.
"Don't test me, Willow! I know you've been a slut without me, and I'm still willing to let it go. Keep this shit up, and I'll have to teach you a lesson."
He lets me go and gets off the bed, calling over his shoulder, "get cleaned up. I'll be back with some food."
When I hear the lock click into place, I feel the tears rolling down my face.
