Shattered

Meeting You

I descend down the stairs and am immediately offered a glass of champagne. 

The house is amazing. The ball room is huge and bright. Potted flowers everywhere.

Women and men laughing and talking among themselves. 

An older looking man walks over and greets us.

"Oh hello Arraine. Who is this beaut you have here?" He asks.

"Oh, this is Gemima. Gemima this is Mr Timothy. " she says and I greet back. They start talking about business. That's my cue to leave.

I walk to a far corner and I sit look out to the balcony. As I'm seated there. I feel eyes on me. I dont turn because eyes have been on me since I got here. I look at the little watch on my wrist.

Its seven PM right now.

"Hello there." Someone says. I skip a bit.

A man who looks to be in his older fifties walks over to me. His hair is grey and falls down his neck, perfectly jelled back.

"Hi." I say, feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm Mitch. What's your name?" He asks. He smiles a tight lipped smile.

"I'm Gemima." I tell him. He nods and moves an inch closer. I try to move closer but I'm met with the balcony.

"Oh, don't you want to go some place more quiet?" He asks. Slurring his words.

He smells like an intoxicating perfume and sweat. His eyes are blood shot. His pot belly presses against my body.

Fear overtakes my body. I feel myself trembling .

"N-no thank you. I'm g-good here." I tell him. He looks disappointed but he persists.

"Come on sweetheart. Let's find somewhere we can be comfortable at." He says. Dropping his arm on my lower back. My face twists in fear and disgust.

I'm going to be raped.

"Come, let's go." He begins.

A young man stalks over to us.

He is wearing a tuxedo, his eyes are hazel brown and he has pearly white teeth. He is handsome, incredibly so. His brown hair falls perfectly from his head.

"Honey I've been looking for you all over." He says.

I want to tell him that he must have confused me for someone else. But his eyes beg me to play along.

"Oh, who is this. Mr Jenkins. I see you've met my dime." He says to Mitch.

"Oh, Nathan. What a pleasure to see you. It's been a while." He says.

Its surprising how he just switched from pervert to this respectable man. Appropriate for his age.

"It has, I see you've met..." he sponders. Realizing that he doesny know my name.

"Gemima." I whisper.

"My Gem. Well we'll be going." He says. Mitch nods and walks away.

"Are you alright?" He asks.

"I'm okay thank you. But I think you have me confused with your wife." I tell him.

"I don't have a woman in my life. I saw how uncomfortable you looked, so I decided to come over to help. I'll leave now." He says.

"No... you cant leave? I dont even know your name." I tell him. Begging that he doesnt leave. I'll be left to deal with more men like Mitch.

"I'm Nathan Meyer. You can call me Nate." He says with a chuckle.