A PAINFUL ESCAPE
1319 Words
CHAPTER THREE
Isabella’s POV
My breathing paused for a brief moment,I didn’t know if I should turn around or just keep moving forward.
“Has he found me?”I tought as panic gripped me.
The footsteps were getting closer.”What do I do?”
If I just kept it going I don’t know if I would get hurt unexpectedly from behind ,at this point I don’t know what Ethan is capable of doing to me anymore.
I closed my eyes and looked up and said a quick prayer “Help me get out of this situation please “I pleaded in my heart.
I decided turning around would be better at least I would know what’s coming and know how to save myself,maybe he wouldn’t even suspect anything.
I gathered the courage and turned around and there I saw a figure holding two grocery bags.
Relief washed over me , she was standing a few feet away ,from her face you could tell she was probably wondering why I had reacted that way, her brows drawn together in confusion.
“Girl ?” she said raising an eyebrow.
I looked at her unable to utter a word,I was so sure I had heard Ethan’s voice , anxiety and fear had really taken over me. I’m so traumatized and I haven’t even had a break for the past few days.
Just a few seconds ago I was sure Ethan had just caught me leaving instead it was my best friend.
“You look terrible “, taking a few steps towards me.”What happened?”
I tightened my grip around the safe box “Nothing “
“Nothing?, What do you mean by nothing ?” She said and paused , she looked up from my face down to the box in my hand and then back at me.
“It’s written all over you that there’s something “she said.
I tried to force a smile
“It’s really nothing,I’m fine” I said with my shaky voice giving me away.
She sighed softly “No you are not.”
For one dangerous moment I wanted to tell her everything about the divorce papers, the phone call, and the woman on the other end of the phone,those words I heard were still ringing inside my head.
”End her life if she doesn’t make things go smoothly “. I wanted to vent, lash out and explain everything to my friend but the words couldn’t just come out of my mouth.
Upstairs I could hear footsteps,my heart started racing uncontrollably. I looked towards the staircase,I was so sure fear was written all over me. I really didn’t want to make it so obvious but it was anyways.
Vanessa noticed “Is Ethan home?”
I didn’t know which answer to give because I myself didn’t want to believe I was still in the same environment as someone who is a literal threat to my life.
“He is”. I said stuttering.
“Alright great, let me go say hi to him”.She took steps heading to the stairs , my heart almost stopped.
“Hell no, I can’t let her go up there?” I thought
“Vanessa “ I blurted out.
“He isn’t “I said in an attempt to make her stop.
My heart almost jumped out of my body, without thinking I grabbed her wrist and dragged her outside.
Vanessa looked at me startled “Bella?”
I slowly let go of her hand as we reached the car.
How could I explain to Vanessa after all the warnings that it all ended up being true ,how do I explain that I was now scared of my sweet boy,how do I tell her the air I breathe was willing to take away my breath?
“You are scaring me ,what the f**k is going on?” she yelled out.
“Please just keep your voice down , I need to take you somewhere right now “ I said, putting my hands in between, demonstrating for her to keep quiet.
“Where ?” She looked at me and then at my hand again.
This is the second time she’s noticed this box and I know I can’t escape the question coming next.
“And why are you carrying that box?” She looked at me with her eyes wide open.
“Isabella “ she called out again.
I looked away trying to avoid eye contact,if I looked at her any longer than this I would break down completely.
I walked towards my car threw the keys at her“Get in” I said.
She reluctantly got into the car but the look on her face showed she was pissed and had so many questions.
“Drive” I yelled pointing to the steering wheel because she was just there staring at me.
“So now where are we going ?” she asked.
“Anywhere, I don’t know “I murmured.
The car ride was so quiet and those words I heard said kept replaying in my head.
“End her life if she doesn’t make things go smoothly.”
“What if I was wrong and it was just a misunderstanding ?” I asked myself trying to convince myself it was a lie.
“Absolutely not, I heard it so loud and clear even if I didn’t hear any other words I definitely heard “End Her life”.
And then my husband said, “ofcourse “those words sent fear crawling down my body.
“Talk to me, what’s really going on ?” she said taking her eyes off the road for a second.
I adjusted my sitting position, gripped the seatbelt, adjusted my hair looking for things to do just to avoid answering Vanessa.
“You do know that’s not going to work on me right?” She said rolling her eyes.
“We have been friends since childhood , we are all we’ve really got , we went through almost everything together , you do know that right?” she said softly.
“Now spill” she said with her face focused on the road as she tucked her dark hair behind her ears ready for the news.
How was I supposed to explain something I myself couldn’t even believe yet?
I let out a laugh bitterly with sadness and grief as tears gathered in my eyes,the words refused to leave my mouth , If I said them out loud, they would become real.
“Ethan wants me dead” Those words were heavier than anything I have ever said.
She slammed on her brakes abruptly in the middle of the street, so that I almost hit my head on the dashboard, thanks to the seatbelt.
And there was silence,before she could speak I continued “I know, I know you warned me about him.”
She looked at me in disbelief“I know I warned you but ,I myself never imagined him ever doing something like that.”
I felt relieved that she wasn’t blaming me right now.
“He asked me to sign the divorce papers this morning,I was still willing to go to any length for our marriage to work but that’s when I heard him on a call with another lady “ I paused to catch my breath.
Vanessa looked at me and her face was red at this point.
“She said, End her life if she doesn’t let things go smoothly, and I didn’t know what I expected Ethan to say but he said, ' Of course.”
“I am so sorry,I should have listened , I thought you were just jealous and you didn’t understand him well enough “.I said looking down at my lap with my voice filled with regret.
- Writer
