Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
He breaks the connection. “This way,” he says, guiding me to the bathroom. He places me on the edge of a clawfoot bathtub then steps back, taking a look around, as if he isn’t sure what to do next.
I huff a laugh. “I think I’ve got it from here.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to fall.”
I smile. “I’ve got it. Thanks.”
With a quick nod, he leaves the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, and I sit for a moment, taking in the details. The walls are a shimmery black, the floors made of gray stone. The silver tub is in pristine condition, not a scratch or dent on it, and I’m almost certain it’s never been used. I run my hands over the silver knobs and faucet, then make use of the toilet, because I really do have to pee.
When I’ve relieved myself, I catch a figure next to me. There’s a mirror on the wall, and the figure is…me. I wobble toward the mirror, taking careful steps. My shaky fingers reach to one of my locs and I wrap it around my finger, but I can’t help noticing the reflection shows a girl I don’t know. She appears thinner, and there are bruises on her body, around her ribs and her neck. She’s been beaten and attacked, and the reminder of that brings tears to my eyes. She isn’t the Willow who landed here only days ago. She’s even more broken now.
I close my eyes as reminders of Rami fill my brain again, and I flinch when I remember the way he slapped me. Hot tears run down the length of my cheeks, and my throat closes at the sheer reminder that I was alone in that moment.
And then it hits me about Garrett and what it will be like when I go back. The way he tries to control me, the way he grabs me, shakes me. Rami was an example of what Garrett would eventually become and feeling the wrath of it was horrifying.
I’m abused.
I’m damaged.
I’m useless.
It’s no wonder I’m so depressed.
A pair of hands take hold of my face, and I open my eyes as two thumbs stroke my tears away. I suck in a sharp breath when I see Caz standing in front of me, holding my face, stroking my wet cheeks as he studies my eyes. I try to find the words to tell him I’m fine—that this is just a misunderstanding and that I’ll be okay.
But he says, “You’re not okay.”
I look into his eyes for a long, long time, until my vision blurs and I can no longer see him, and the tears break out like a flood. My stomach is sore, and it hurts even more as I try to hold in the sobs, but the sobs are uncontrollable and they burst out, and that feels much better than fighting it.
Caz releases my face, and I think to myself, Don’t go.
He doesn’t. He picks me up in his arms, and I rest my head on his chest. I’m not leaving you.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. I hate when people see me cry, and he of all people is witnessing it. I’d think he was laughing on the inside if I couldn’t hear his concern.
He doesn’t say anything as he carries me out of the bathroom and places me down on the bed again. I’m surprised when he lies next to me. He doesn’t touch me, just lies there, waiting for my wave of sadness to pass. As he does, Silvera comes over, looking between us. It’s almost like she’s asking, “Did he do this to you?”
I force a smile at her, pat her head, and she gives us another thorough look before sauntering through of the crack of the bedroom door.
“You have to stop thinking about it,” he finally says.
I turn onto my side, peering out the window. There’s an ocean out there, the water nearly black. The water ripples beneath gray clouds, crashing at the shoreline. A barge moves along the water at a snail’s pace. “I’m trying.”
He’s quiet a moment. “Is it only Rami that has you this way?”
Truthfully, no…but I’m not telling him that. Doesn’t matter anyway. He’ll read my mind and figure it out. I really need to learn how to do that mind wall thing.
Caz sighs. “Willow, will you look at me?”
I don’t move. I keep my focus ahead.
“Who is Warren?”
I whip my head, glaring at him. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Why shouldn’t I? You keep thinking his name. Him and some person named Garrett. And Garrett is clearly no good for you, so I don’t understand why you allow him to take up so much space in your mind.”
“I should get back to my world,” I say, steering the subject.
“Look, you can’t let the things Rami did beat you down.”