The next day at work, Jack waited for Sally in the front lobby, concerned that she just get there on time so that his fears weren’t confirmed. He saw her and his heart dropped; she wore a long sleeved turtle neck, black skinny jeans with her long red hair falling into her face. He looked back at the temperature monitor on the back wall and his stomach sank lower. It was ninety degrees outside and sunny and Sally was wearing all black with her hair in her face?
She stepped into the door, glanced around and walked to her office door. Jack followed.
“Sally?’’ He asked her, seeing her jump for the second time. She looked up at him. “Are you ok?’’
She nodded, giving him a failed attempt of a smile. “Of course. Why?’’
Jack shrugged, walking in and standing before her desk, eyes never leaving her face. “You seem…..harassed.”
You have no idea she thought, avoiding eye contact with him.
harassed is too tame a word for it…
He reached across the desk and touched her hand, but she jerked hers away so fast she knocked over a stack of files on the corner, sending them flying across the floor.
"I-" She knelt to pick them up, her hands shaking. "I-I'm sorry, I'll pick these-"
"Sally.'' he knelt by her but she moved away. "Sally!"
He grabbed her arm and she gasped; he had grabbed her bruised elbow that Jonah had hurt the night before.
She looked up into his face and saw that he wore a concerned look that she had never seen from anyone before.
She also saw how nice he looked, so close to her like that; his eyes searching hers and his hand closing in on hers and squeezing it lightly.
"You can tell me anything, Sally.''
Tears sprang to her eyes and she couldn't stop them. She twisted away from him, putting her hand over her eyes.
His hand touched her back and she heard his soothing voice:
"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.''
damn it!she thought, losing control fast.
damn it!! why couldn't i have ended up with Jack instead?
Jack watched, his heart breaking, as she struggled to keep it all under, to keep a monotoned expression. He saw her attempt to cover up the bruises that dotted her jaw line and the faded black eye she had under her bangs. He also saw the small scars on the back of her hand. He had seen the way she looked at Jonah; that look of fear and contemptment Jonah had her so scared she wouldn't even talk about how he beat her.
"I swear I'm fine.'' she said quietly, standing and placing the papers on the desk and giving him another failed attempt at a smile.
Jack sighed. "Ok." he said, nodding. "Ok.''
Sally walked home with Jonah, who had dropped by unexpectedly and intercepted her on her way home. He had only said a word to Shelby, the accountant, and gripped her elbow hard and led her away from the building. They walked in silence, turning the corner into a dark alley; Sally's heart dropped. He pushed her away, his hand coming back
SLAP
She tripped back into the hard brick wall of the town hall.
"I thought i told you to be home by seven."
"Its six thirty.'' she said, her voice breaking into sobs. "Its-"
SLAP
"You're a fucking liar!" he said, grabbing her by the hair and shaking it slightly.
"Jonah please-"
But just then Jonah was torn away from
her and thrown back as Sally slid down the wall, onto her knees.
"If I ever see you touch her like that again-If I ever even
see you near her again i will kill you.''
She heard Jonah's cursing as she heard quickly retreating footsteps.
Someone knelt by her and touched her arm lightly. "Sally.''
She looked up and, seeing Jack, attempted to dust off her skirt. He helped her up, being careful not to touch her where she hurt.
He took his jacket off and draped around her shoulders. He led her out of the alleyway and down the sidewalk to a small, deserted coffee shop where he sat her down in a booth
in the back corner. Sitting across from her, he leaned over the table. He slid a cup of coffee into her hands and she gripped it tightly, staring into its black depths. They were silent for a few moments.
"sally-"
"How'd you know where we were?'' her voice came out hoarse. She continued to stare into her coffee, not even drinking it. The steam rose up and wafted around her face, soothing her faded bruises and the one that was forming on her cheek.
He smiled slightly. "My snoop side caught up with me. So I followed. Sally, I’ve had suspicions this was going on. And I am so sorry I didn't act on it sooner.''
She looked up at him, brow furrowed. "Your sorry? your sorry?"
Tears sprung up into her eyes and she covered her face with her hands. She didn‘t want him to see her cry, she didn‘t want him to see her and how weak she was.
"Do you know how long I’ve waited for someone to say their sorry to me?"
Her voice broke in soft sobs and she felt his long, long arms wrap around her.
“I feel so stupid.’’ she whimpered, shaking her head against his chest. “I should’ve just left him-This is my fault.”
“Shhh.’’ He whispered, holding her a little more tightly. “I can’t imagine how hurt you are-I can’t imagine how much he’s hurt you or in what ways-But I wish I could just absorb all your bruises, your injuries-that I could trade places with you.’’ he said softy. Sally heard in heart beating in her ear and something in her melted.
“Why would you say something so….so ridiculous?” She said hoarsely, pulling away and looking up at him incredulously.
He smiled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. “Because I can’t stand to see someone as beautiful as you be beaten down by someone so weak as Jonah Miller.’’
She pushed him away, suddenly angry. “Weak?
Weak? You call this-”she pulled back her sleeves, revealing the several bruises that lined her arms- “You call
this weak?! Could a weak man do this? Could a weak man cause this much-this much-” tears coursed down her face and shook her head. “Damage…..” He went to hold her again but she pushed his hands away. “
Don’t touch me! Don’t you dare touch me!” She spat at him, still crying. “I don’t want any other man touching ever again, do you hear me?
Never!”
She heard her own voice but it didn't.....sound like herself.
"That'd be so much easier to beleive if you weren't crying.''
Her defenses were demolished at the sound of his incredibly tender voice.
Sally rubbed her cheek and sniffed. "Maybe.'' she said quietly.
"Do you want to stay with me for a while?''
She stared up at him. "What?''
"I want you to come and stay with me-you know, kind of like a resting period. And i won't take no for an answere.''
Sally sighed. "Won't it bother-"
"I have a whole second story to my house i never use-it's just sitting there. You can have it if you'd like.''
Sally thought for a moment and nodded slowly. "Ok.''
