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“Yeah, they need to be held accountable. If not for you, then for the next woman they decide to target," Tony added, his voice firm. I glanced at him and saw the anger simmering beneath his cool exterior.
It took some convincing, but Sally finally agreed, albeit hesitantly. The next hour was a blur of blue uniforms, flashing lights, and officers taking statements. EMTs had arrived and were giving Sally a quick once-over. Luckily, whatever they’d given her had only been a small dose, and she was becoming more coherent by the minute. Despite the chaos, I felt a sense of relief washing over me. We were doing the right thing, not just for Sally, but for every woman out there who might cross their path.
One of the officers asked if we knew the men's identities. Unfortunately, they had paid cash at the bar, leaving us with no trace of them. Feeling a sense of dread, I quickly forwarded the pictures I had taken on my phone to the officer. We may not have had their names, but at least we had their faces. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Sally's sobs filled the night, echoing off the brick walls of the alleyway. She was in shock, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling. I wrapped my arms around her, my heart aching for her. Between the booze, the drugs, and what had happened, she was a mess and I couldn’t blame her one bit.
Tony was comforting Sally in his own way, speaking to her softly, reassuring her that she would be okay. It was a side of him I had never seen before, a side I liked, even though I didn’t want to admit it out loud and risk letting him think he was in the clear for how he’d treated me before.
As we sat there in the dim light, the cold air around us, I tried to keep my feelings in check, to focus on Sally, on her well-being. But I couldn’t ignore the warmth that radiated from Tony. I couldn’t ignore the comfort his presence provided. It felt improper, given the circumstances, but I welcomed the relief I felt from him being there.
After one last check from the EMTs, Sally was cleared to go home, no need for the hospital.
Tony’s strong arms helped me guide Sally to my car. She was too weak to walk on her own, but between the two of us, we managed to get her inside.
"Thank you," I said, turning to Tony. I expected him to leave, to retreat back into the bar and leave us alone. But he didn't. Instead, he nodded, his eyes serious.
"I'll follow you home," he said, his voice low. "To help you get Sally inside."
I shook my head. "That's not necessary. I can handle it."
He looked at me, his eyes piercing through the darkness. "I know you can," he replied. "But I want to help. You don't have to do this alone.”
Despite the turmoil of emotions whirling inside me, I found myself wanting his help. We had a common goal to ensure Sally's safety. And at that moment, it felt like the only thing that mattered.
As I drove home, I could see the constant presence of Tony's car in my rearview mirror. His headlights were a comforting sight, reminding me that I wasn't alone. I knew that when we reached my house he would be there, ready to help me with Sally. And that thought brought me more comfort than I cared to admit.
As I drove through the quiet streets of Denver, Tony's car following behind, I began to lose myself in my thoughts. My mind went to the kindness and unexpected support he had shown. He was the kind of man worth dating, worth investing in. But he clearly didn't want that. I wasn’t going to be just a friend with benefits to him, I deserved more than that. I would thank him and send him on his way, no matter how much it pained me.
When we reached my house, we worked together to get Sally inside and into the guest bedroom. Tony remained surprisingly quiet, respectful of the situation. As I began to undress Sally and help her into some comfortable clothes, I asked Tony to take Sadie out to the backyard. He gave a nod and disappeared down the hallway with Sadie trailing behind, looking back at me for approval that it was okay.
In the faint light of the room, I turned to Sally, now lying on the bed, her face pale. Her eyes fluttered open as I took her hand, assuring her that she was safe.
"I know," she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips. She tightened her grip on my hand, her eyes falling closed again. "You need to hold onto Tony, Jude," she said, her voice slurring a bit. "He's… he’s a good dude."
I couldn't help but laugh at that, the irony not lost on me. Oh, if only Sally knew.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied. “But you need to focus on getting some rest.”
She nodded softly, her eyes still closed. Within seconds she was sleeping, her chest rising and falling with steady breaths.
After making sure Sally was tucked in, I made my way back to the living room, where Tony was waiting. He’d returned with Sadie from her trip outside and was standing before my wall of family photos, his thumbs hooked into the front pockets of his jeans. The array of memories displayed was a colorful mosaic of joyful moments, pictures of me with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even Sadie as a tiny, energetic puppy. As his eyes traced over the images, I noticed a softness in his gaze I hadn’t seen before.
I could see a hint of sadness in his eyes, a reflection of what I felt inside. I knew I needed to thank him, to tell him how much his support meant. But as I opened my mouth to speak, I realized how difficult it was going to be to say goodbye.
"You've got a big family," he commented, his voice low.
I swallowed, feeling a lump forming in my throat. As much as I longed to share stories about the loved ones that adorned my wall, I knew I couldn't. I didn't want to give him more of myself if he wasn't willing to do the same. It would only lead to more heartache.
"Yeah," I said simply, crossing the room to stand next to him. Our reflections stared back at us from the polished glass of the photo frames, two figures standing side by side yet worlds apart.
I forced a smile on my face, even though it felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces. "Tony," I began, keeping my voice steady, "thank you for your help tonight. You didn't have to do all that, but I'm grateful that you did."
I turned to face him, my gaze searching his. "I think it's time for you to go," I continued, moving toward the door and pulling it open. The cold night air filtered in, making me shiver.
As much as I wanted him to stay, as much as I longed for his warmth, I knew I needed to protect my heart. And that meant letting him go.
He didn't move nor did he look away from the photos on the wall. My heart pounded, and the silence in the room became deafening. I cleared my throat, hoping to break the tension, but he still didn't turn.
