I’d recognize those cruel eyes anywhere.
Scared and pulling the pen from my bun, holding it tight against my chest, I pick up my pace and get on the main road. The second I see a woman getting off a cab, I run.
I run like my life depends on it as hurried footsteps follow me.
I look behind me again and find him chasing me.
“Fuck!” Trying not to lose my shit, I push the woman aside as her curses follow me. I slide into the car and quickly ask the driver to start the engine.
The cab pulls up to the street, and I find the man standing in the middle of the road, looking at me as I leave.
Releasing a shaky breath, I direct the driver to take the long way home to make sure that he’s not following me.
With hurried steps, I reach my door and try to open it. The trembling of my hands makes it difficult as my keys jam in the lock. “Fuck, please, open,” I mutter with a quick glance behind me.
Finally, the door gives in, and I rush inside, slamming the door behind me.
I slump against the door, the bag falling on the floor with a thud.
The reality of what just happened and what could’ve happened sinks in. I choke on a sudden sob, and tears follow unbidden as they rack my chest.
Dropping to the floor, I pull my knees close and cry in my lap. The slightest of sounds startles me. Frantic, I look around and find a window open as the gust of wind ruffles the curtains.
Frightened, I pat around for my bag and pull out the phone. With shaky hands and blurred vision, I dial the only person I know who could provide me comfort.
Ezra picks up on the third ring. “Hey, Kaeli,” he shouts into the receiver, the sounds of blaring music overpowering his voice.
God, how much more pathetic can I be? He’s out there enjoying himself with his friends, and I’m calling to bother him for something he can’t do shit about.
“Kaeli, can you hear me?” comes his voice from the other end.
No, I can’t ask him to baby me. “Never mind.Bye, Ezra,” my voice breaks, and I choke on a sob.
I immediately hang up and pray that he didn’t hear that. Of course, he didn’t. The music’s too loud in the club.
Rocking on the floor, I try to calm myself down and pull at my hair. Squeezing my eyes shut as if that will erase the horrific memory of everything that happened today and last year.
I don’t know how much time passes, but the click of the door opening startles me, and I crawl away from the door as a man’s figure fills the door. Covering my face with my hands, I beg him to leave. “Please, please. No, don’t…don’t hurt me. Please,” I whimper.
He crouches down in front of me, reaching for me. I scream with all the force of my lungs until I feel like I will pass out.
“KAELI! A voice suddenly filters. “Come on, Feather, you’re scaring me,” he pleads, jostling me to come to my senses.
Blinking the tears from my eyes, I look closely at the man’s face and find that it’s not him. It’s my Ezra.
Relief floods me, drowns me in it. “Ezra,” I say his name like a prayer in a broken whisper andlaunch myself at him.
He staggers to his ass and catches me, hugging me to his chest. I bury my face in his neck and cry like a baby. I break down in front of him in a way I never have.
While he consoles me and rocks us on the floor, comforting me. “Shhh. It’s okay. You’re okay. I’m here.”
Yes, he’s here when he was supposed to be out there partying. The fact that he came for me makes me wail even harder.
“Don’t cry, Feather. You know it hurts me to see you like this,” he begs me, his hand rubbing my back in a soothing motion.
We stay right there on the floor with my arms around him, holding him like he’s the oxygen I breathe.
I let go of the hurt I have been holding onto for a year in his embrace.
