I am shut in the bedroom, hiding from Max. Things were fine when I came home this morning. He was sober, sweet and didn’t ask any questions. He was the man I fell in love with. It continued to be fine for most of the day until he started drinking and taking coke a couple of hours ago.
It was like a switch was flipped, and he started on me. It was name calling at first, telling me I was a slut, fat, ugly, and worthless, amongst other things. After a little while, he got bored with it and started throwing punches at me. He punches me twice, the first hitting me hard in the eye, which is now swollen and bruised. The second he burst my nose. I managed to escape from him before he struck again and came in here to stay out of his way. There is a lock on the bedroom door, which I used, but also, I pushed a set of drawers against it, making sure he couldn’t bust in.
When I first came in, he banged on the door, yelled at me, and trashed the apartment. He realised after an hour I wasn’t going to come out and he wasn’t going to be able to get in, so he gave up.
I have been lying on the bed, crying and staring at the ceiling for the last hour. I wish I was stronger, strong enough to fight back or leave. When it all started, I did try fighting back, but it made things worse for me, so I stopped trying. I am waiting for him to leave before I exit the bedroom. He will be going out with his friends for drinks anyway tonight at some point. They will go to one of the strip clubs they usually do.
I was supposed to be working tonight from six o’clock until three o’clock in the morning, but Max wouldn’t have allowed me anyway because of the marks on my face. He doesn’t like showing what he does to me to other people.
I have thought about Blake while in here, regretting not sticking around and taking his number. Though, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because Blake took my cell away from me. Why, I don’t know, because he knows I don’t have anyone to call. A part of me wants to run straight to Blake’s place, but I won’t because I refuse to bring trouble to his door, to his life. He is a good man and doesn’t deserve it.
A loud bang on the door makes me jump, “I am going out. You better fucking be here when I get back, Chloe and tidy up the fucking mess.” Max hisses.
I didn’t say anything to him. I wait until I hear him walk out and close the front door behind him before I move. I walk slowly, removing the drawers and unlocking the door. I only open it halfway in case he is still here and pretended to be away. It wouldn’t be the first time he has done it. I cautiously stepped out into the hallway, tiptoeing around until I knew the place was safe and he would appear out of nowhere. I lock the front door because he never remembers to take his keys.
I head straight to the bathroom for a shower to clean myself up and change. I strip down, stepping into the warm shower. I close my eyes, resting against the wall and enjoy the heat on my skin. I sink to the floor and start crying again. Why do I keep letting this shit happen to me? Surely, my life doesn’t need to be like this. It all comes down to one thing. I have nowhere else to go.
I don’t know how long I stay in the shower, but the grumbling in my stomach reminds me I haven’t eaten today, well, a yoghurt at breakfast, but that’s all. There wasn’t much in the house, so I will need to go out and eat. I have a little cash hidden away. It isn’t much, but enough to buy some food. Max wouldn’t be back until the early hours of the morning, so I had plenty of time to head out, eat, come back and tidy up.
I slip a towel around me, heading to the bedroom to change. I hide the marks on my face with some make up because I don’t want people staring and whispering.
There is a twenty-four-hour diner not too far from here. Their burgers and fries are good, and so are their apple pies. It would let me out of the house for an hour.
***
I am sitting at a booth in the diner, eating a slice of apple pie with cream and drinking a coffee. I am lost in my thoughts, dreading going back home. I sigh, playing with my food.
“Chloe,” I hear someone say, unsure who it is.
I glance up, and the last person I expect to see is standing in front of me. Blake!
“Blake, what are you doing here in this part of town,” the surprise is evident in my voice.
“I was driving around, trying to find you, and my car broke down just right outside. I am waiting for someone to come fix it, so I decided to come in for a coffee and there you were,” he smiles.
“Y-y-you were looking for me?” I ask, and he nods, “Why?”
I don’t understand why he would want to waste his time.
“Because I had a gut feeling you needed me. I was worried about you. Something told me to come to this part of town. I know it all sounds a little strange, but it is the truth. I was going to start trailing the strip clubs nearby once I got my car fixed.” He looks at me with gentle eyes, and I believe every word he was saying, even if it was all a little strange.
I whimper, “You shouldn’t have bothered, Blake. You don’t need someone like me in your life. Bad luck and trouble follow me everywhere I go.”
It would be best if he walked away right now. Of course, he didn’t listen and sat across from me.
“Oh, that looks good. Do you want another slice?”
He grabs the attention of one of the waitresses, “No, I am okay, thank you, but it is delicious. You should totally have a slice.” I smile.
“Do you want anything else?” he asks, and I shake my head.
Blake places his order with the waitress and turns his attention back to me.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?” he whispers.
“I am sorry, but Max was calling, and I had to leave,” I reply.
Blake studies me closely, reaching over and resting his hand over mine. I jump at first but then relax, “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I can hear the concern in his voice.
I break eye contact with him, “I am okay now. He went out.”
“But he hurt you again, didn’t he?” he asks through gritted teeth.
I nod, still not managing to look at him. I hear him sigh, and he squeezes my hand, “I think you should come back with me tonight to my place to stay. I don’t want you going back there.” He pleads.
I lift my head, my eyes meeting his again, “I can’t, Blake. I told you; I don’t want to be a bother. I am sure you have better things to do with your time.”
“And I told you, you wouldn’t be a bother. It is simple, angel, you come back with me, or I keep coming around until I can convince you to leave that bastard. I refuse to forget about you,” He insists, stroking the top of my head with his thumb, “Please, Chloe. I beg you.”
“Why? I don’t get it,” I whimper, tears building in my eyes.
“Because you deserve better, Chloe. I don’t think you are used to someone giving a damn about you, which breaks my heart. I care, Chloe, and I can help you.”
“I need to think about it,” I whisper, running my fingers through my hair.
“Okay, but I can be very convincing, you know?” he flashes a dorky smile at me, and I find myself laughing.
It probably isn’t a great idea, but something tells me if I disagree, he will just keep appearing until I do.