It's time to move on

Chapter 7

I close the door behind him and lean back against the door. I let out a long breath and touch my lips, smiling. I never thought being with someone could feel this good.

There is a knock on the door, without checking through the peephole I open it. Maybe it was a false alarm and Jason has come back to me.

Charles is standing in front of me. I shiver. I try to close the door but he slams his hand on the door and pushes it open. I back away.

“Honey, I’m home.” He grins. That sends a chill down my spine. How did he find me?

“Get out!” I yell. He looks the same as I remember him. He is much taller than me and much stronger than I am.

“I came to take you home.” He says and slams the door behind him. He walks towards me and I’m shaking.

“Leave me alone!” I yell and back away, right into my couch. I gasp. He keeps getting closer. I run for my phone and call Jason.

“He found me!” I cry when he answers on the first ring.

“Get out! I’m on my way!” He calls back.

Charles grabs me and my phone falls into pieces on the ground.

“Your new boyfriend can’t help you now.” Charles says as he slams me into the kitchen counter. Scared out of my mind I try to make it to the door. He grabs me by my arm. “I was fine with you leaving me after a while but then you had to go and throw yourself at him like a f*****g slut!”

He yanks my arm hard and I lose my balance and fall on my back, he gets on top of me and pins my arms above my head. The weight of his body doesn’t allow me much room to struggle, he bends and tries to kiss me but I shake my head violently to avoid his mouth.

He lets one of my arms go and back hands me with his free hand across the face hard. I feel tears run down the side of my face. I can hardly think. He puts his hand on my neck and squeezes. I grab his wrist with my free hand and pull but he is too strong. I don’t have the strength to pull his hand away.

“I was your first; did you really think I’ll let you f**k another man?”

He lets my other arm go and I add that to the hand already trying to pry his hand from my neck. He proceeds to grope one of my breasts and starts to move down my body.

I don’t want him to touch me.

I am disgusted!

The more I struggle the tighter his grip on my neck becomes. I’m struggling to breathe. He rips my shirt open. I’m overwhelmed by fear, nearly paralysed by it. A sudden calmness overcomes me as I remember Shirley’s words, LET HIM THINK THAT HE HAS WON.

I let go of his wrist and put both arms on either side of my body.

I see him smile, “That’s my girl. Now I’m going to going to f**k you hard.”

His grip loosens around my neck as he bends to kiss me, giving me just enough room to move one of my legs; with all my strength I lift my body up making him lose his balance for a split second.

I hit him on the nose with my palm, he grabs his nose. “You b***h!”

I get up and try to make it for the door again. I fail.

Charles grabs hold of my ankle and I fall down hitting my forehead on the floor. The familiar throb on my head begins and the blood runs down the side of my face. He grabs me by my hair and hits my head on the floor a couple of times.

I feel like passing out.

He flips me over and punches me in my stomach, while I try to recover, he sits on top of me, he rips my shirt open completely, and with both hands he grabs my breasts then tries to pull my bra up.

“If you fought like this while we were together the s*x would have been so much better.” He smiles as I try to slap his hands away from me.

He starts fiddling with my jeans button; I cup my hands and slam them into his ears. He falls backwards clutching his ears and screaming.

I crawl away but he pulls me by my leg, I kick his hands and body a few times. I get up and make a run for the door again; Charles is behind me and pushes me into the wall. Some of my wall art falls off the wall and the frames scatter into pieces. My shoes crackle as I step on the glass.

Charles strikes me in the face with his fist. I block his second swing and grab his wrist, I turn around taking his arm with me, I lift my elbow and swing backwards as hard as I can. I hit him in the face and he falls back. All I want is to get away from him but he won’t let me.

He pins me to the wall I head butt him and the stinging in my head gets worse. With all that I have left I punch Charles in the face just above his left eye. He falls back on the floor. I’m pretty sure he’s unconscious but I don’t stay to find out, I throw the door open and run right into Jason’s arms as he turns the corner running.

He holds me and I start crying mostly out of relief.

“Where is he?” Jason asks.

With my head leaning on his shoulder I point to my apartment, we walk back and find Charles still lying on his back.

“Did he hurt you?” Jason asks as he looks me over.

“Not in the way you’re thinking about.” I reply while pulling my torn shirt tighter over my body.

Jason calls the police while I stay in the doorway, Jason’s arm never leaving me.

I look at Charles and have only one thought. I got away.

The police arrive very quickly and take the unconscious Charles away.

A female detective takes me into my bedroom while her partner talks to Jason.

I sit down on my bed.

The room starts spinning.

“Rebecca, I know you are tired but I have to ask you a couple of questions.”

I nod, “I know the drill.” I’ve been through it a couple of times but this time I won’t lie.

“My name is Detective Jamie Armstrong, I have to ask you. Were you sexually assaulted?”

“No.” I reply.

“You can tell me if you were. I promise you’ll be safe now.”

“He didn’t get the chance to. Not this time.” I say looking up directly  in the eyes.

“This happened before?” She questions though I can make out her anger.

“Yes, but I was too scared to say anything then but I’m not scared of him anymore.” I tell her. “I got away from him before he could r**e again and this beating is not the worst I’ve ever received by his hand. I fought back.”

The Detective gently places her hand on my shoulder, “I am so happy that you survived.”

Another person enters my bedroom by the bag dangling from the person’s hand. I can make out a paramedic’s bag, as I look up I see Shirley smile down at me.

“Hi Becca. You gave him a broken nose and a concussion. I am so proud of you.”

“You two know each other?” The Detective asks, surprised.

“Yeah Jamie. This is the girl I’ve been telling you about.” Shirley tells her.

“Now I’m even happier to have met you.” Jamie says. I give her my statement and once I’m done she stands up, “I’m going to leave you two alone. Rebecca meet me down at the station in about an hour or so or if you would rather go to the hospital. I can meet you there?”

I look up at Shirley then at Jamie, “I’ll meet you at the station. These aren’t so bad.” I say looking at my arms. I have had much worse done to me in the past.

After Jamie leaves Shirley turns to me, “How are you?”

“I’m okay. Is Jason?” I need to know. He saw what Charles did to me and I know he does care about me.

“He is a little upset that he couldn’t protect you but he’s fine.”

“I can’t believe I’m okay.” I say in disbelief.

“Well honey, you are pretty banged up.”

“This is nothing compared to what he used to do to me.”

“I’m glad you’re alive but let me check you over to be sure, okay.”

I nod and stand up. Shirley takes pictures of me and I head to the shower. The warm water burns my body but as I see the blood run down the drain I smile. I beat him and it feels great.

After my shower I find Shirley sitting patiently on my bed. I get dressed and she cleans my wounds and puts a few plasters on.

“Okay Becca, so you have a slight concussion you need to stay awake for at least six hours.”

I glance up at the clock. It's past eleven so I have to stay awake until around five am and I’m already sleepy as it is. Shirley opens my door then stops and faces me, “I am really happy you are okay. You did it. Facing him must have been the hardest thing you ever have to do it. Jamie will put him away for a long time.”

I smile at her, she is right. I’m proud of myself. I am stronger than I thought I was.

I see Jason sitting on one of the couches with his head buried in his hands. I walk over to him and sit down.

“It’s all my fault.” He mutters.

Shirley nods at me and leaves. I lift Jason’s head up with my hand, forcing him to look at me. “It’s not your fault.” I say looking into his eyes.

“I should have never left you.”

“You had no idea any of this would happen.”

“I put you in danger the moment I came into your life.”

“My life was in danger before I met you. If it wasn’t for you being in my life I would be dead right now.”

Jason touches my face with the back of his hand and I flinch, my body still aches from my encounter with Charles. Jason quickly pulls his hand back. I take his hand in mine and rest them on my lap. “I need to go down to the police station. Do you want to come with me?”

“If you want me to.”

“I do. I was hoping you’d drive.” I reply and he frowns. I smile, despite the bruises and open wounds I hope that I don’t look too bad.

“I never want to leave your side.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Shirley says I might have a concussion and I need to stay awake until five am.”

“Okay, I’ll take you down to the police station and then we’ll stay awake so that we know you’ll be okay.”

“Thank you.” I kiss him on the cheek.

I take one last look at my destroyed apartment. A lot of things have been knocked over in the process but I feel free.

I feel strong.