I've Just Seen A Face {Ringo Starr}

Chapter 15

*10am*

I stumble through the door and fall on the floor.

"Would ya look at that." I hear a man say. "POPPIE-" I hear chairs move and I throw up on the floor. "Lovely.."

I look up to see Ringo and the rest of the Beatles doing band practice. "I'll clean it up." Paul walks into the kitchen. I lay on the floor all pale and sweaty and feel someone scoop me up in their arms. "Hey there doll." George smiles down at me and pulls out his handkerchief and wipes my mouth gently. "Let's get ye to bed." He kisses my head softly and carries me into my bedroom where Ringo is panicking and grabbing towels and making my bed all comfy.

"Can I put her down yet?"

"Hold on Geo -" Ringo scurries around the room. "Need any help?" John leans on the door frame. "Get her some water yeah?" George looks at him. "Okay, now you can." Ringo looks at the nest of blankets he made and George lays me down. "God this is worse than last time." He sighs. "What? This has happened before?" George asks.

"Yeah she came home all drunk and high on drugs. Wasn't this bad though." He gulps. "I'm-" he sighs and unzips my dress. "Woah- Ritch." George stops him.

"She's probably injured."

"Why?"

"I- I don't know, I heard William call her a prossie, she goes out like every night." He takes off my dress. "Stop her then." George says. "It's not that easy George." He looks at the bruises all over my body. "Oh lord.." George gulps. John walks in with the water. "Fucking hell!"

"Don't raise your voice, it scares her."

"Is this from that prick of a fiance?" He puts the water down. "I- I don't know, but I'll talk to her, and when I find out I'll tell you guys." He sits on the bed and strokes my cheek and I twitch. "Maybe it's best if you all go home, I don't want her waking up to a crowd." He looks at them. "Yeah, yeah of course, keep us updated yeah?" John says. Ringo nods.

I woke up hours later groaning and Ringo hadn't moved. "Hey tiger, I got ye some water." He picks up the glass and helps me sit up. I sniffle and sip the water. "What happened?" He asks me. "I- I don't remember..." I wipe my eyes. "Well what's the last thing you remember?" He says. "I- Daphne... She- she said I had a job.. big- big cock business man- my money- where- where is my money." I panic. "Hey shhhh just relax okay? I'll sort it all out. Who's Daphne?" He strokes my hair. "My- my work colleague." I say. "Work? You have a job?" He looks at me confused. I nod.

"Doing what?"

"I- n-no.. " I say as tears fall. "Poppie please... All I want to do is help." He cuddles me. "I- I go out at night.. get high and drunk so I remember less." I sniffle.

"Remember less of what?"

"I- I'm a stripper.. and- and a sex worker... I- i go out at night and let them just- just use me.. hurt me.. like I'm their play thing.. then i- I go home and just let William do the same.. i- I can't take it anymore Ritch... Im- I'm tired..." I let my head fall back.

He gulps. "It- it's okay i- I'll do the best I can to look after you okay? But for now just rest-"

"I'm meant to be a mother..."

"What?"

"I- my clients wear protection but- William he- he doesn't.. and he- he has sex with me and then when I get pregnant i- tell him... And he just- he kills it..." I cry. "I could not tell him but I'm scared he'd either kill me or the baby when it's born."

"Oh sweetheart.." He tears up and cuddles me. "I just want to be happy... It's driving me insane." I say.

"And you will... I'll make you the happiest girl alive okay? I don't care if you don't want to be with me, you deserve the whole world for what you've gone through." He strokes my shoulder.

"I've spent so long just- just waiting for death.. then- then you come along and I just treat you like shit I'm so sorry." I sob. "Poppie it's fine okay? Trust me, I understand."