Changed

Three

I walked like a zombie, I didn't even know where we were going. Jess and Beau were talking but I didn't hear voices I just saw their mouths move. I couldn't hear my boots on the cobble stones my ears were ringing and my brain hurt, one moment I saw Jess and Beau, I saw dim street lights and then it went dark.

I opened my eyes and my throbbing headache weighed heavily. My ears were ringing in rhythm with the throb. I rubbed my eyes and I saw spots and an array of colors. The sun was warm on my skin, I felt warm. It was like I woke up next to a beach after falling asleep with my nose in a book. Apart from my awful headache the warmth was comforting. I opened my eyes and saw a massive bed with white linen that blinded me as the sun's rays reflected back at me. I moved my hand over the crisp bedding and smiled. As I followed my hand my heart dropped. A deep purple bangle that wrapped itself around my wrist brought back last night. Instantly I went cold, flashes of the night caused the ringing to grow louder. I started to breathe loudly and my heart was racing. I remember Beau, I remember Jess, their mouths moving then - nothing. There was a knock on the door that snapped me out of the incessant ringing. I saw Jess peek around the door eyes filled with concern. "Hi my love." she whispered. "Here's some juice and painkillers, your breakfast is on the way." I smiled weakly and gestured for her to sit on the bed. She moved swiftly and pulled her knees to her chest. "Do you want to talk about last night?" I immediately shook my head. Flashes came to me and I felt my body flinch. My muscles in my back went into spasm and my hands instinctively moved to hug my shoulders. "Okay, when you are ready, or if you want to that is. I'm here for you love." she reached her hand and I flinch again. "I'm sorry, sorry I didn't mean to scare you." I smiled softly " I am sorry Jess, don't mind me." I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Just then there's another knock on the door and a lady that looks like she is in her early 60's walks in with a silver tray. She placed it on the bed side and glanced at me. Her eyes immediately fell on my neck, we made eye contact and I felt a wave of shame wash over me. She straightened out her apron, and gave a slight bow of her head to excuse herself. Jess reached for the tray and placed it in between us. "Please eat something and then you can take a bath, I have a few outfit options for you!" I looked at her as she spoke and when she smiled at me I realized that she is a really nice person. I could tell she has a kind heart with a lot of love to give. I gave her a faint smile. "Jess? Where are we?" She started to laugh and a smile beamed. "Ahh my love, we are at Beau's. He and Roman bought this place a few years back and might I add it has a fabulous pool! Summers here are epic!" I looked at her and could feel my frown as my scalp started to burn again. Reality struck and I realized I have to go back to my flat. I haven't messaged my mom, I frantically looked for my phone. Jess looked at me and she could see the panic. "Han, what are you looking for love?" I looked at her and felt my tears run down my face. Trying to compose myself and find the words in the swirl of thoughts running through my brain. "Phone.... Mom..... my flat...." I started breathing erratically and Jess jumped from the bed and rushed to the table with a massive vase and flowers. "Here, here, I gotcha." she handed me my phone and I grabbed it with a huge sigh of relief as I clutched it to my chest. "Thank you." Jess took a piece of bread from the tray and handed it to me and I almost groaned out loud because the sight of it made my stomach turn. "Eat, please?" I brought the slice to my mouth and took a small bite. My mouth was so dry and my lips were cracked. "There's towels in the bathroom, just shout if you need anything." Jess left and I was alone with my thoughts. My chewing kept the ringing at bay as I scrolled through my phone. My mom's name came up and I opened the message. 'Good morning! I hope you had fun last night! We miss you so much! Enjoy your day! I love you! " Tears welled in my eyes and it grew into full cry mode as I read those few simple words. I wanted to tell my mom I'm not okay, I didn't have a good night, I wanted to tell my mom that I'm sad, ashamed, and hurt. I looked down at the words I typed and wondered if they might come off as if something was wrong. 'Hi mamma, last night was good. I miss you guys most, wish you were here! have a good day! Luv u mamma!" I read the message over and over. I hoped my mom wouldn't notice something was up. I walked to the bathroom, the room was massive, beautiful. I went into the bathroom and gasped it was so stunning. I winced picking up a soft towel and squeezed it as I brought it up to my face. Looking into the mirror I saw my eyes, they looked empty with mascara staining my under eye area which were basically hiding my dark under eyes. As I lowered the towel I saw my neck, it was bruised and there was dry blood that ran down to my collar bone. I was bleeding? How? Then I remembered the sting I felt, and my heart started to race. I took off my shirt and my muscles were fighting me, everything hurt. There were bruises on my chest and arms. My tears were not stopping, I started to cry out loud as I fell to my knees on the bathroom floor. Jess came in and just wrapped her arms around me, she said nothing as I cried into the towel. She opened the tap and put the plug in, the water running was making me feel better and whatever Jess put in the water smelled amazing. Jess helped me up and I saw what the white towel looked like. "Im so sorry, I ruined the towel!" Jess gave me a smile and giggled slightly. "No stress, its just a towel and there are three more!" The warm water stinged my skin but it felt so good! I laid back and I could feel my back sting. " Are there bruises on my back too?" I looked at Jess with shame, she nodded slightly and handed me a facecloth. "I'm sorry this happened to you Hannah, we shouldn't have..." I stopped her there. "No! It was my fault!" She gave me a puzzled look. "How is assault your fault love? He had no right to do this to you! He is a pig!" Jess lifted her hands up in frustration and sighed. She left and I breathed in and out heavily. I felt a little better after the bath and as I walked out of the bathroom There were clothes neatly laid out on the sofa. Even though it was not my style I chose the simplest option. I saw my phone screen light up and saw a message from my mom. 'I'm here for you always, luv u bug!'' My heart hurt. I'm here less than a week and I felt homesick. The day with Jess was good, we shared stories, ate a lot of sweet stuff, watched a few episodes of a show we had in common, I fell asleep on the couch while watching. When I woke up I heard Jess talking, I got up and tip-toed to where her voice came from. Even though it's called eavesdropping I couldn't help myself. "He assaulted her Roman!" My heart stopped.