Look at Me - H.S.

~ Chapter 22 ~

Sorry for the delay in updating! I've made this one a bit longer to make up for it.
Enjoy x

Shaun's POV

"Sh-Shaun."

The pain in her voice has me jumping up from the sofa immediately. Running a hand through my hair and wincing at the sudden ache in my chest, I hold my breath for a second before I ask, "what's wrong Cassie? Where are you?"

Violent sobs rack her body as she tries desperately to control them enough to answer my question. My patience is being tested with every second that passes while I wait for her to answer. "Cassie, darling, it's okay, I just need to know where you are and I'll come and get you, yeah? Are you at home?" Trying to keep my tone as calm as possible because I can hear the shortness of her breath through the phone. I head towards my front door, slip on a pair of trainers and grab my car keys as I make my way out of my apartment, trying to reassure her with every step I take that brings me closer to her. "Cassie, you're okay, darling. Just try and take some deep breaths with me. In through your nose and out of your mouth, do it with me." I overly exaggerate the breaths that I'm taking, I hear her small whimpers as she tries with everything in her to mimic me. Deciding I don't have the patience to wait for the lift, I head towards the stairs, praying to Christ that I don't loose signal as I make my way down the three flights.

Just as I reach the bottom I can just about hear a small voice on the other end of the phone. "S-school" she murmurs in between breaths.
Thank fuck for that.

"Okay, good girl. You're doing so good for me Cass, just keep taking those deep breaths with me, yeah?"

I can still hear her trying to take in the breaths of air she so desperately needs, some sounding more like gasps but she's trying and that's all I can ask of her right now. Just as I reach the underground car park, I get to my designated spot and unlock the Range Rover. Jumping in and starting the car as quickly as my body will allow, the barrier lifts as I'm approaching it and I'm exiting onto the main road in record time.

"I'm on my way darling, I'll be there so soon. Just stay on the phone. You don't have to talk but please don't hang up. I'm coming as quick as I can"

Relief washes over me when I notice the roads are pretty clear, the fact that it's past midnight probably helps. I pick up speed where possible, remaining calm as I head in the direction of the school that Cassie works at. After a few minutes of silence I check on her, "Cass, you still there?"

"Mhm" she hums in response, the shake in her voice is still present but her breathing has somewhat stabilised already.

"It's okay, darling. You're ok, I'm almost there." I try to reassure once again. Not really knowing what else to say, I just need her to know she'll be alright, I'll make sure she's alright, whatever has happened.

What the fuck has happened? She was literally laughing and joking and fucking singing no more than forty five minutes ago. If that piece of shit has hurt her, I swear to every fucking god above, I will kill him. Rage starts to course through my veins at my assumptions and my knuckles whiten with the tightness of my grip on the steering wheel. This woman is pure sunshine in human form and she doesn't deserve a single thing that poor excuse of a husband does and says to her. I would happily chop his knob off and feed it to him. And that's just from what I've seen with my own eyes, fuck knows what else Cassie has to endure behind closed doors. She deserves so much more. She deserves someone to worship her, to tell her, every fucking day, how amazing she is, how beautiful she is and she deserves to be able to believe them when they tell her.

My anger subsides slightly as I pull into the road of the school. Slowing down, I scan each side of the road and my breath hitches as I spot her. Sat on a patch of grass, leaning against a lamppost, she has her knees bent and tucked up against her chest with her arms wrapped around them and her forehead resting on her knees. Her phone is held loosely in one hand and it isn't until I get closer that I notice she doesn't even have shoes on. I've never seen her look so small, so child-like. I pull over right in front of where she's sitting, unbuckling my seatbelt before the wheels have even stopped turning and jump out of the car, not bothering to turn the engine off. I run over and fall down to my knees, landing directly in front of her. I gently run my hand over the back of her head and whisper, "Cassie." Her head whips up to look at me, only now realising that anyone was here. The sadness is evident in her bloodshot eyes and the black streaks of mascara that runs down her cheeks, caused by the flurry of tears that don't show any signs of stopping. As her eyes meet mine, another heart wrenching sob erupts from her chest and I grab a hold of her, pulling her towards me and onto my lap. My arms wrap around her securely and she nuzzles her face into my neck. As I feel her tears drip onto my skin and cascade into the collar of my T-shirt, I lift one of my hands to hold the back of her head, my thumb stroking her hair as I try with all my might to bring even a smidgeon of comfort to the broken woman that has moulded herself around me.