But Mom’s not here.
Mom’s in the emergency room; and she might be dead right now if I hadn’t made that phone call ...
There’s a pause, a horrible endless pause as I hear the thick leather of the belt creaking in his hand. And then ...
CRACK.
I cry out from the pain, my brain flashing white, as I feel the leather striking hard against the bare skin of the backs of my thighs.
“Please stop,” I sob. “Please ...”
But he does it again.
CRACK.
And again.
CRACK.
And again.
CRACK.
And again ...
I wake with a start,crying out in the darkness, unsure where I am, throwing off the sheets and sitting up in bed, my skin slicked with a thin sheen of sweat, my whole body shaking.
“Hey,hey,” Marcus murmurs, pushing himself up too and stroking my back gently. “What’s up? Another bad dream?”
I nod, the words catching in my throat.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. “Whatever it was, it’s over now ...”
“I’m just going for a ... a glass of water ...” I finally croak, stepping out of bed and quickly pulling on a white silk nightgown.
“Come back here,” he laughs, reaching for the phone. “You don’t need to do that. I’ll just get Helena to fetch it for you. That woman never sleeps anyway ...”
“No, Marcus,” I say, decisively, turning and giving him anot-nowlook which silences him. “I need some air. Just let me go. Please.”
“Whatever you say,” he sighs, letting himself lie back in bed.
I pad hurriedly out of the room, closing the door behind me, then pacing along those strange, endless white corridors, the half-light of the early morning making everything seem so strange and unreal.
And even though itwasjust a dream, it’s like I can still feel the sharp sting on the backs of my legs – like that horrible scene happened fiveminutesago, notfifteen yearsago.
Somehow I manage to find the kitchen, which is huge and spotlessly clean, the moonlight reflecting and sparkling off the many brushed stainless steel counters and refrigerators.
After a quick search, I finally locate a large tumbler and pour myself a glass of water from the faucet, gulping it down.
But the water wasn’t the only reason I needed to get out of that room.
There was just something sorealabout that dream – so horrible. And for some reason, it made me want to get away from Marcus, too.
I can’t quite explain it.
I shake my head, wondering if I’m just too fucked up. I thought I’d buried all those awful memories deep down in my subconscious but now it seems like they’re coming bubbling up to the surface again to haunt me.
As soon as I get the money for this week, the first thing I’m gonna do is pay for a shrink, I decide.
