The woman gently pulled me up and I didn’t fight. I was tired, sore, and scared. All my fight had long since been beaten out ofme.
What was the point in fightinganymore?
I removed my hands from my face and wrapped them around my middle. I could feel my ribs cry out in pain from the pressure and remembrance of old breaks that had never healed quite right, but it was better than the blackness that wanted to take over. I was led to the couch where the lady sat down and pulled my head to her lap. My tears continued. She unbraided my hair and began to run her fingers through my blacklocks.
Surprisingly, my breaths began to even out and my tears slowed. My heartbeat slowly calmed and I stared blankly at the table in front ofme.
I jerked when a blanket was laid over my body, and that’s when I noticed I was shaking. My legs were pulled up to my chest and my teeth were chattering. My entire body was shivering from the insideout.
“It’s okay,” the female said, not stopping her fingers. “It’s only Zack. You’refreezing.”
“S . . . s. . . sorry,” I stutteredout.
“Don’t worry, Dawn,” she shushed, her voice soothing like a mother’svoice.
“Emily, baby? I’m gonna give Elijah a call,” said the man named Zack quietly from where he stood behind the couch. I hoped he wouldn't get any closer tome.
I couldn’t help but compare his voice to Sir’s. It was soft and soothing, just likeElijah’s.
“Okay,” she replied, just as quiet. “Why were you scared, Dawn?” she askedme.
“Too quiet,” I whispered as my body began to warm. “No onehere.”
“The TV was on,” she pointed out. “But I can understand. I had a few panic attacks the first few weeks after I was rescued, and I was there for less than a week. I couldn’t stand to be touched, or to be alone with just my thoughts. I hated it. Of course, my life wasn’t much better before my boyfriend sold me to Galvin and hiscrew.”
“I saved her, though,” Zack said as he plopped into the chair closest to us. “Took me two months before I could touch her, and six months to earn her trust, but we’ve made it thisfar.”
“And my love,” the female—Emily—whispered with asmile.
“That, too,” Zack laughed awkwardly. “Anyway, Elijah should be back within the hour. We should have been here before he left. I'm sorry weweren’t.”
After a few minutes of silence between the three of us, Zack grabbed the remote from the coffee table where Elijah had left it and changed the channel. I closed my eyes, too tired to keep them open any longer as I enjoyed the soothing feeling of Emily playing with myhair.
