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Erica ducked right before the glass plate hit her head. Donovan, her somewhat boyfriend shouted in a rage. She toned his voice out as she crawled towards their bedroom. Her nose bled from their previous fistfight.
"Where the fuck are you going!" He yelled pulling on her leg and trapping her against the ground.
"Donovan, please! Just let me go." Erica covered her face while he sent blows to her body.
Tears pooled in her eyes. This is not the way she expected to be living her life. Breathing through her nose Erica tapped into the last of her strength. With enough power to throw him off of her she ran into the bedroom and locked the door.
With Donovan's banging in the distance, Erica picked up the phone and dialed her cousins' number. He answered on the first ring.
"Yo, what's good E."
The tears finally rolled down her face, "Melo I messed up. I need to get out of here. I didn't want to call the police."
LaMelo could hear the commotion in the background, "Call the police. Look I'm not in Houston right now but I can send somebody over. I know you think you love him but you need to end this. Call the police or I will."
Erica hung up the phone at his harsh words. It was the truth but she didn't want to hear it so soon. Dialing 911 her fingers felt heavy as she spoke through the phone.
"Yes, I need help..."
Josh lay asleep in his bed. The midnight air left goosebumps on his dark skin. A call woke him up. The phone flashed brightly in the darkroom. Groaning he answered the phone.
"Melo, man I know I said keep in touch but not like this." Joshua rubbed the creases that began forming on his forehead.
Melo sounded upset and worried. Josh sat up in the bed with urgency. He hated being out but knew his friend needed help. After promising to pick up Erica he hung up the phone and threw on some clothes.
Erica sat in the hospital room shaking. The fluorescent lights triggered her migraine. Two police officers stood over her taking her statement. Clearing her throat she rubbed her wet and bruised face.
"And that's when the fighting started. I tried to leave but he just got even angrier." Her story continued as they took pictures of her wounds.
"He can't hurt you anymore. Do you have somewhere safe to stay?" The women's advocate spoke to her softly.
Erica was about to respond until Joshua peeked into the hospital room. She looked back to the woman and nodded her head, "I get to go home tonight, right?"
Josh led Erica into his home. She balanced her weight trying not to land on her casted foot. Her crutches were hurting her arms. Erica just wanted to take a shower and go to bed. Josh closed the door setting her bags in the corner of the living room.
"I guess LaMelo sent you." Erica leaned against the couch holding her stomach in pain.
Joshua nodded, "Yeah, you can stay on the couch until Melo comes back in town. He said something about going back to California after the holidays."
Erica gasped, "But it's October. He really expects me to stay with you for two months?!"
"Look I don't like this either. If it wasn't for you, then you wouldn't be here." He immediately regretted those words.
Erica looked down at the floor, "Where's the bathroom? I just want to go to sleep."
Closing the bathroom door Erica looked around the big bathroom. The tub was separated from the shower, the floors could heat up, and the mirror had lights on it. Everything about Joshua screamed money. She had never seen this much wealth unless she was with the ball family.
Looking at herself in the mirror Erica began to cry again. The damage to her body was evident. Dried blood was all on her face. Her broken rib hurt at any sudden movement. Her foot was fractured. A bruise on her neck indicated that he tried to kill her.
Joshua could hear her crying in the bathroom. Knocking on the door he could hear her freeze. "I'm okay." She called out from the other side.
"Do you need help? I know the doctor said your rib is broken."
A moment of silence passed before the bathroom door creaked open. Erica let him in. Gripping the grey crutches she watched as he turned the water on for the tub. He laid out towels and washcloths for her.
Moving to the sink he dipped a cloth in hot water. Erica looked at him funny. She didn't like the idea that he wanted to help clean her up. Joshua gave her a sympathetic look before taking her chin in his hands and dabbing at the blood on her face.
Erica hissed at the pain but allowed him to continue. Once the blood was gone he left her alone to finish bathing herself. Erica sat in the tub soaking her body. She sighed in relief. She felt safe enough to trust Joshua.
Grabbing her phone from the side table she texted her cousin.
Melo
you just had to send Joshua over instead of somebody else
does it matter? I sent help.
how long am I supposed to stay here
probably until Christmas or until you figure out how to come home
Throwing her phone down didn't help soothe her anger. Erica knew she had made some mistakes in her adult life. Temp jobs, odd jobs, no degree, no talent. She didn't even know what she wanted to do in life. But that was all okay because she was safe now.
