"Yeah it was good.How was your day?"She smiled.
"I went to the marina.It was so nice to catch up with Ernie and Jake, Sarah, Paula...I spent the day by the water.I felt so at ease, like nothing could bother me anymore...Come to think of it, I didn't think about Zak at all today.Except for now but you know what I mean."Caleb smiled back at her.
"See there is hope Mari, you’re doing great."Mariyah was actually thinking she might be getting over Zak, finally being able to move on without the constant reminder of his touch, of his kiss or his temper...Don't only remember the good things Mariyah, he was abusive, and he hurt you, he called you a whore, he threatened you and he hurt your brother.Think of all the times he made you cry and said he never cared about you...Not just the good times.
"Mari, think of something else.You have really come along way, don't let him get the better of you, you are worth so much more."Caleb was right.
"I know.Hey are you ready for dessert?"
"I'm always ready for dessert, let me shower first, I need to get out of these clothes."Mariyah’s phone rang as she was tidying up.She answered the phone and Mariyah felt a familiarity about the way the phone beeped before anybody spoke.
"Hello...Hello is anybody there?"There was no answer.Oh well, she ended the call and returned to the task of washing up.Her phone rang again."Hello, I'm sorry, if you’re talking I can't hear you, it's a bad connection, maybe you can try again later."Ending the call again.Who could it be?When the phone rang a third time Mariyah picked up, that beep, where had she heard it before?And just like that she remembered, that was the noise from the phone at the prison...That's what the phone did every time Caleb called...Suddenly it felt like somebody had thrown icy cold water on her, Mariyah started to shake."Stop calling me."Oh my god, this was not happening, not now.Could it be him Zak?
CHAPTER 7
Caleb returned into the living room smelling nice and fresh, "Looks like you've seen a ghost, what’s wrong?"Debating with herself Mariyah didn't know whether or not she should tell him.
"I ah...I just got three strange calls.Nobody answered me, but it was that same dial tone I used to hear when you called me from prison."Caleb's face darkened.It was better to be honest with him.
"You think it was Zak?"Mariyah nodded, who else would be calling from prison?
"I think so, only thing is he didn't say anything and that doesn't seem like Zak, I don't know maybe I'm hallucinating."
"Mariyah, if he calls again you need to tell me, if he is after you we need to leave, he is deadly and will stop at nothing to get his way.He will more than likely find a new way to blackmail you into seeing him again.No matter what he says he'll do you cannot agree to his conditions.Try not to talk to him at all.I need to find somewhere for us to go."
"Caleb, I can't let you leave everything you've worked for here.What if it wasn't even him?Let's not jump the gun okay?"
"Mari, I'm glad you told me, I know this must be difficult for you but honey, we can't be unprepared if he is after you.I've seen what he does and he is on the inside.He has that many fuckers working for him that he's capable of anything.Please trust me on this.If he does try and make contact you need to tell me okay?Promise me?"
"I promise."If it really was Zak who called, what could he possibly want with her?Caleb was right, it took her a long time to see how wrong the whole situation was and even though she did love him still, it wasn't enough to be in a relationship that started on threats and abuse.Mariyah needed to keep away from Zak Michaels if she wanted to keep her sanity.She didn't want to be one of those girls who was too stupid to see how abusive their relationship was.Mariyah thought better late than never to wake up and smell the coffee.
***
During the weeks Mariyah took Brent up on his offer for him to be her personal trainer.They would jog every morning for an hour, followed by stretches, that's as far as Mariyah was willing to go.She was enjoying the company more than anything else and it kept her mind busy.Brent was a gem, he was sweet and thoughtful, he never made any advances on her and their friendship grew.He helped work her mind to think of things that didn't give her anxiety, it worked for a little while but not when she was alone.
Taking Brent's advice, Mariyah did what she was putting off, she returned to her doctor and explained that nothing was working.Her anxiety level was just growing.Doctor kept asking what would trigger it off and she would reply that she didn't know.Mariyah was almost certain that the doctor did not believe her.Still she was prescribed some anti-depressants along with anti-anxiety tablets.She didn't care what they were she took them as directed hoping to get her mind back on track.
"Mariyah, you can do this without the pills you know?You can speak to people who can help you."Mariyah was sitting on the floor at the park after an intense work out.Brent was stretching.
"Brent its way too complicated.I can't say anything, a lot of people would get in trouble if I did.Not only that it's not safe..."
"What about the authorities?"Mariyah gave him a bitter laugh
"Brent trust me on this, no authority will get involved."
"Tell me what happened.I will not say a word, I'm an outsider, somebody who is going to listen and not judge, sometimes all it takes is talking about it to make you see clarity.Give it a go."Brent sat beside her.She really did want to talk to somebody other than Caleb about it.With Caleb she had to hold back a lot of the information.What the heck, she needed to get it off her chest.
"Before I start, you have to promise me that this stays between us, please."
"I swear to you not a soul will hear it from my mouth."She nodded, okay here goes nothing...
Mariyah started telling Brent her story, how Caleb was arrested and how it was her fault.She told him about the court case and the sentencing.When she starting talking about the day she visited Caleb for the first time in over a year at prison, she noticed Brent's eyes fill up with sympathy.She wanted to laugh, if he thought that was the worst of it, boy did he have another thing coming.
She replayed the entire event, how Caleb warned her not to look at Zak, that he was bad news and how maybe she got Zak's attention by looking into his dark eyes and making him notice her.Like she did to that guy at the beach the day that Caleb got arrested.The more Mariyah was retelling her story, the more she realized that perhaps she was looking for the attention, although she was unaware of it at the time, looking back now she saw it differently.
"Keep going, you’re doing great."Brent encouraged her.So she did, she explained to him how Zak threatened to hurt Caleb if she didn't do as he wanted.Mariyah couldn't get to the part where he slept with her the first time, she found it very hard to tell him about finding out it was a personal visit, not your normal visit.She stopped.
"I'm sorry Bret, I can't do it, I need time."Brent put an arm around her shoulders giving her the comfort she needed now.
