Chapter Thirty-Six
Fallon
“It’s okay. You're okay,” I whisper, too scared to get any closer into her personal space. “Tell me, what do you need? A ride home? A place to stay? A doctor? I promise I can help you, if you let me.”
“Can you get me out of here?” She asks, her voice wobbling. “Please.”
“Of course,” I say as I reach out my hand. “I can take you wherever you need to go.”
She takes a second, her eyes flicking between my hand and my face. What has this woman been through that has made her feel so scared? My heart cracks a little when she doesn’t accept it straight away, but it's not long before she lifts her hand to mine, gripping it tight.
I squeeze hers in return and muster the kindest smile I can.
“Luke? Will you get a cab?” I ask, and the woman's body jerks beside me.
Looking over at her, I can see the tears springing to her eyes. Is it Luke? Surely he hasn’t done something? Or is it men in general? Hoping for the latter, I try to calm her.
“Luke is a doctor at the hospital not far from here. I swear to you, you are safer around him than anyone else,” I feel myself relax the moment her shoulder sag in relief.
“We will keep you safe,” he smiles his genuine, workplace smile. All professional. “Let's go, the car will be here any minute.”
The drive to Luke's place takes minutes, but after quizzing her on where she wanted to go, we decided that bringing her here was the best option. This way, he can check her over, make sure she hasn't sustained any more injuries, and maybe help her figure out the situation she’s got herself into.
The lift doors open into his apartment, and her eyes widen.Yeah, I felt the same way when I first came here.I think to myself.
“Would you like some water?” Luke asks, backing away to the kitchen.
I know what he's doing; he's giving me the chance to speak to her alone. God, the feelings I have for him feel stronger by the second. She nods subtly, and he leaves us to it. I still have her hand in mine as I usher her over to the sofa.
I plonk myself down and start untying the straps of my heels.
“Thank fuck for that. These things havebeen killing me,” I giggle, but when I look at her, she’s still standing, twisting her fingers together. “Why don’t you take a seat? We could talk?”
She nods and slowly lowers herself down. I wouldn’t say she looks comfortable, though. She is perched on the very edge, as if that will help her escape quicker if she needed to.
“So, er…” I start. Shit, I don’t even know her name yet.
“Layla,” she says.
“Layla,” I smile. “So, Layla. Do you want to talk about what's going on, or do you want to watch some TV and have a chill?”
She frowns, biting her lip. “You… you don’t mind if I don’t want to talk?”
“God no. I’ve been in a situation where I couldn’t talk, even when I wanted to. I would never make you do something you didn’t want to,” I say, pushing myself further into the sofa. “But, if you do, I've been told I have good listening ears.” I wink. “I just want you to feel safe from whatever is troubling you.”
“I’m kind of… stuck, in a bad situation. Tonight escalated a lot,” she admits. Looking down at her knees. “If you didn’t see me, didn’t help me when you did, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
I stay quiet, not wanting to push or interrupt her. I’m hoping she will tell me because she wants to. She is still looking down at her knees, so I can't see her face, but the tear that drips ontoher leg gives away just how much this is hurting her.
“It’s my boyfriend. Well, my ex-boyfriend,” she says through the thickness in her throat. “He hasn’t accepted that we’re over.”
“I used to know someone like that,” I admit.
A sad laugh bubbles out of her throat. “How can people like them exist? How is it fair that we have to suffer so much pain, and when we finally get the courage to leave, they won't let us go?”
“If your ex is anything like mine, it's because they are pure evil. He got off on hurting me, twisting my feelings so I always needed him, even when I didn’t.”
She looks up at me then, her eyes shimmering with so much sadness and pain.
