Annie blinked."What?"
There were no outward signs of abuse or even unhappiness when they were dating.When Jason traveled up to Seattle to see Leigh, he often visited with Annie and her mom.He always seemed polite and in love with Leigh.The fact that he had fooled her made her stomach turn.
"There were signs," Leigh said, her voice barely above a whisper."He'd get jealous.Ask who I was texting.Who I was smiling at.I thought it was sweet.I thought it meant he cared."
Annie's heart ached.
"I liked how possessive he was," Leigh continued."Until it stopped feeling like love and started feeling like control.Like I was always watched and judged."
"Why didn't you tell me?"Annie asked, her voice cracking.
She and Leigh were inseparable growing up.Best friends.They shared everything, even a bedroom.
Leigh looked away."Because I was ashamed.I didn't want you to think I was weak.Or stupid.I didn't want Mom to worry.After the stroke, she had enough to deal with.I thought...if I just held on long enough, he'd change."
Annie raised her voice."You're not weak.You're not stupid.You're my sister.And you didn't deserve any of this."
Leigh's lips trembled."I kept thinking it was his career that was making him mean and cold.The pressure.The long hours.All the crimes he witnessed.I thought it was desensitizing him.But it wasn't any of that.It was him.He's sick."
"We just need to concentrate and look toward the future."Annie ran her hands over her face."You're out now.That's what matters.Today, you're safe."
They sat like that for a long time, the silence between them thick with everything they hadn't said for years.
Eventually, Leigh drifted off again, her body sagging into the cushions.
Annie stood, stretching her stiff limbs, and walked to the front window.The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows across the yard.
She needed to do something.
She couldn't sit here and wait for the next disaster.
She glanced at the burner phone Hunter had given her.If she could get to Seattle, she could get to the bank and take out the money she'd saved.It wasn't much, but it would get them far enough away that Jason and his cop friends couldn't touch them.They could start over, maybe on the other side of the United States.Once Leigh was healed, they could both get jobs.They'd worked tables before and could also run a cash register.They didn't need much, just enough to afford a small apartment where no one could find them.
Jason had taken her purse, which contained her bank card, driver's license, and phone.However, she still had her birth certificate and social security card in the file cabinet back at the apartment she shared with her mom when she was alive.That would serve as enough proof to get a new bank card issued.There were four months left on her six-month prepaid lease.The landlord knew her and would let her into the apartment without her keys.
If she could borrow a couple of hundred dollars from Hunter, she could go to Seattle.Once Leigh was strong enough to stay alone, she'd take the train, visit the bank, and withdraw the little money she had left.She'd pay Hunter back.
And maybe—just maybe—she'd have enough to get Leigh somewhere far away from Jason.
Her car was probably gone.Jason had either hidden or gotten rid of it.But she'd figure it out.
A low rumble echoed in the distance.
Annie's heart jumped.She rushed back to the window and peered out.A dark figure rode into the driveway.
"It's Hunter," she said, relief washing over her.
Never was she so happy to see someone.In a short amount of time, he’d become the person she leaned on.When he was around, she worried less.
She opened the door just as he stepped up, a brown paper bag in hand.
"Chinese," he said, offering her the bag.
She inhaled deeply, making sure to look at him when she asked, "Can you stay?"
He stepped inside.She shut and locked the door behind him.The scent of sesame and ginger filled the room, warm and comforting.
Leigh had sat up when she opened the door and even waved at Hunter while Annie set out the food and got them silverware from the kitchen.
