I’d barely finished speaking when two glasses were shoved in my face, one from Kaden, the other from Chris. I saw the hate in the doctor’s eyes when I accepted the glass from the man I loved.
I listened as everyone talked and shared glances and nods. I felt un-human and hated it. It was the last thing I ever wanted to happen - my colleagues seeing me beaten and battered. I had managed to hide it for so long, talk about bringing it into the open with a bang.
And Kaden, I felt ashamed he had to see me this way. Not even Martha had been aware of the extent of the beatings.
Memories of that day assaulted me, dread and embarrassment hit me. Surely Kaden would run now and I wouldn’t stop him. I was confused as to why he’d hung around for so long.
I knew seeing me in a pool of blood on the floor would have hit him hard, it would have brought back what had happened to Ari and how he was unable to save her. Now he was protecting me, from a man he shouldn’t have to, it wasn’t his responsibility.
My heart ached for Kaden, he hadn’t gotten past the last beating Ben had given me, he’d still been blaming himself for not being there for me.
The fact Ben hadn’t killed me was nothing short of a miracle, but what if he had? How would Kaden have dealt with it? Would he have suffered more guilt, more nightmares?
