Flashbacks.
She suddenly didn’t want to be touched anymore. She turned away from Marco immediately, wrapping her arms around herself. Instantly, she scrambled to her feet, ready to leave.
“Marco,” a woman said gently, “maybe I should take it from here.”
“But Reyna-”
“Trust me.”
Marco sighed, sounding like a disgruntled child. He walked past Amelia mumbling under his breath. She caught something about how he was sure he had enough empathy. Marco walked past the curtains pulled across the room, dividing Amelia from himself and whatever was behind it. She looked at Reyna, a tall and elegant woman with raven black hair and soft nude lipstick, eyes grey like a storm. But her smile was sweet, and Amelia felt like she could trust her. She walked over and sat on the chair beside the bed Amelia was sitting moments ago, reaching out to touch her arm.
“I was the one that caught you,” she explained.
“I remember,” Amelia said with a nod, “Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a problem,” she shook her head, “but we need to know what happened, Amelia. The state you were in was terrible.”
Amelia sighed. She might as well tell her since she saw her and went out of her way to help.
“My husband,” Amelia started, trying to keep her voice from cracking, “I’ve been trying to leave him for a while. I brought up wanting a divorce at breakfast when my son left for school. I just couldn’t take it; him belittling and hitting me all the time. It slipped from my mouth. Not like this hasn’t happened before, but I can’t seem to get used to it.”
Reyna looked at Amelia with sad eyes and sighed deeply.
“And do you want to go back right now?”
“For my son, yes,” Amelia said, “I can’t imagine what he’d do to him if I’m not there.”
“I understand,” Reyna nodded, “but you have to make me a promise, okay?"
Amelia nodded.
"If ever your husband abuses you again, or emotionally manipulates you or hurts you, you'll call me, okay? You'll ring Marco or me up right away."
Amelia suddenly felt warm. There were people in this universe who cared about her condition and wanted to reach out and help in whatever way they could. She smiled at Reyna and nodded again. "Okay."
Reyna punched in her number in Amelia's phone and returned it to her.
“Thank you, Reyna,” she said.
Amelia hugged her and walked past the curtain, and Marco rushed in.
“Look, Amelia,” he said, crouching down beside her. Amelia couldn’t meet his eyes. His gaze did things to her that she wasn’t even aware of before now. “You don’t have to do this. I can get you out of there.”
“You don’t even know me,” she said, feeling a little annoyed. Now she just felt victimized and pitied.
“He’ll kill you,” Marco insisted.
“Well, I’m still here.”
He fell silent. Amelia thought he understood she wasn’t in the mood to be rescued.
“I need to return your money,” She reminded him, getting up carefully to look around for her bag. She remembered grabbing it on the way out. Marco’s hand appeared in her vision with her purse. She reached for it, but he shifted it away from her. She frowned and reached for it again. He pulled it towards himself.
“Mr. Farkas,” Amelia sighed.
"Marco. Just Marco." He shot her a charming smile, and she instantly looked away, cheeks flashing red.
"Umm, Marco, please let me pay you back. There is a lot I’m indebted to you for now, and this is the least I can do.”
