Loving Legacies

Jo’s POV: It was a perfect August evening for a jog around the park. The air was starting to feel chilly and after a full day of moving into my dorm room, it felt refreshing to be lost in my own thoughts even if it was only for a little while. My name is Johanna Lynn Gibson; my friends and family call me Jo for short. I had just moved to Rhode Island’s prestigious Stevenson College as a second year. I mean, how do you turn down a full ride scholarship for their pre-med program? Although, I was flabbergasted they had offered that to me in the first place. After all, Stevenson was where the millionaires went to get an education and I am by no means a millionaire. Not even close.  The park’s trails were winding and not well lit. My watch buzzed telling me I had hit mile marker five. Although it was a chilly night, I could feel beads of sweat rolling down the sides of my forehead. I could feel my muscles loosen up from moving all my belongings up a few flights of stairs. Just a few more miles before I make it back to my dorm. It was getting late. With my headphones in and lost in my own thoughts, it was easy to miss the faint footsteps behind me.  “SMACK” Something hit me in back, knocking the wind out of me. I stumbled before crashing on to the sidewalk. I was seeing stars and before I could respond, multiple sets of hands grabbed my arms and legs while dragging me deeper into the dark park.  “Get off me” I snarled while thrashing my arms and legs around.  Who were these people and what did they want? I fought to free myself from their grip. There were two men pinning me down. One was wrestling with my shorts with a eery grin on his face. Realization hit me and I started to panic. I thrashed, kicked, screamed for help. The beads of sweat that were sticky earlier in the night were now sending cold chills down my back. The one holding my left arm ripped my shirt, shredding the front to expose my sports bra.  “Hold her still,’’ one of them yelled. “Please let me go,” I stammered with sheer panic in my voice. I’ve never even had a boyfriend let alone be kissed or touched by a man. I could feel warm tears escaping the corners of my eyes as one of them struggled with my underwear. This is it. Holding on to my virginity for 19 years to have it taken like this. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself for the worst.  I heard a thud. The two men holding my arms down suddenly let go and were yelling at someone. My eyes flew open with fear. My heart was slamming into my chest. Someone was fighting them off. He landed a punch to each of them before the three cowards took off running in the opposite direction. I shimmied my underwear and shorts up to cover myself. I wrapped my arms around my torso and just hunched over in a ball shaking uncontrollably, thinking of what could have happened.  Even through the tears, I could see this figure walking towards me. I scooted back from where I was sitting.  “Don’t come any closer,” I yelled as I scooted further back.  “Hey, it’s ok. Look at me. I’m not one of them,” he said with his hands up.  I looked at his hands and then his face. There was a genuine look of concern in his soft brown eyes. He looked to be around my age, muscular, and sweaty. A red spot on his chin indicated that he didn't get away with fighting off three guys scotch free. He slips his tee shirt off and hands it towards my direction.  “Here, to cover yourself up with,” he said with a soft smile. His eyes still dark with worry.  I grabbed his shirt and caught myself gazing at him once again. He slightly nodded as I began to slip it over my head to cover my ripped shirt. He reached his hand out to me. I hesitated but eventually allowed him to help me up to my feet.  “I’m Elliot. Are you ok,” he asked as he pulled me to my feet.  “Jo,” I whispered. I started fidgeting with my hands and noticed the scuff on my knee from the fall. There was dirt all over my legs and shorts. I shook my head to tell him I was ok. My neck ached from where I was struck. I suddenly felt warmth in my cheeks as we both stood there waiting for the next to speak. I could feel his gaze never leaving my face. “I had witnessed what happened. Those cowards won’t get away with this. I have already contacted the police and they are on their way. We’ll get them,” his voice was so calming yet angry.   We waited a few minutes before I could make out the red and blue lights headed towards us.