A Love Lost

Gabriel

As she turned around, I saw her. Her face was covered in bruises. Her eyes were red. There was a red mark around her neck. She didn't sit still for one minute before she threw herself onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. I felt my skin moisten. I didn't touch her.

"Can I sit here... and you not touch me." she pleaded, her voice breaking. It must have hurt to speak.

"Not in here. Ana, will you let me carry you to the car?"

She nodded against my skin.

With one hand I opened the door. She tightened her hold against my neck. I wrapped an arm underneath her knees. As I stepped out of the car I cradled her upper back with my other hand.

"Ana!" my brother shouted.

I put a hand up to stop him from coming closer. She was scared still. I was lucky she let me touch her. I didn't want to push our luck.

"Open the door to the back seat, get her clothes, and let's go." He had to drive.

"And my suitcase," she added. Her voice was completely broken.

"We already fetched it." I whispered in her ear.

"Thank you."

He complied with my orders. I was happy with him.

As soon as Ana and I were in the back seat of the Ferrari, she moved, once again, to the opposite side of the car. For the entire ride home, we all were silent. I thought Ana had fallen asleep.

When we got home, we had an entire welcome party. They couldn't see her. It would raise too many questions.

"Nicholas, stay in the car with Ana."

I saw him nod in the rearview mirror.

As I exited the car, Antonio and Ana's mother came to meet me.

"Where is my daughter?" she asked.

"She is upset and tired." I could tell it was true. "Could you take the welcome party inside?"

"Of course." Antonio agreed.

With that, everyone went inside and I went around to Ana's door. When I opened it, she moved away from me. She was scared. She was scared of me.

"Ana." I said, softly. "You have to let me or Nicholas take you upstairs."

She shook her head. "I don't want to be here."

"Where else do you want to be?" Nicholas asked.

If she didn't want to be home. Where would she want to be? I had to think. Where was somewhere she could feel safe and not risk having anyone see her. Then, it dawned on me.

"Nicholas. Why don't you stay here tonight? I will take care of her." I knew where she wanted to go and I didn't want to have to explain to Nicholas.

"Okay. If anything happens, just call." I wouldn't need him.

I closed the door to the backseat as he exited the driver's door.

"Goodnight," I said as I entered the car.

I turned the car on and drove off.

"Thank you." I heard Ana whisper in the back.

It was our place. "Of course, Ana."

When we made it to the bedroom, I let her down on the bed and turned on the light.

"I'll be in the room next door," I said about to leave.

"No!" she ran to me. She hugged me tightly. "Stay. Please. I won't be able to sleep anyway. But, if you're here, I'll feel a bit better." Her hold got tighter and tighter.

I scooped her up and carried her back to the bed. This time, I sat next to her.

"Please try to sleep, Ana." I plead.

"If I do, I'll have nightmares," she explained.

There was silence for a few minutes.

"How can you stand to look at me, let alone be near me? I'm broken." She was in pain. She thought that seeing that guy fuck her and have his way with her in front of me would make me never want to be near her.

"Ana, you are not broken. You hear me. You are beautiful. That guy should burn in the fiery pits of the inferno." I hugged her to my chest. She fought with me at first but eventually relaxed.

She shifted so she was further up on my body. This pushed my shirt that she wore up her body, revealing her side. It was covered in dark purple bruises. Even in the dim light, they looked extensive. I decided to ignore my instinct to ask how she got them. She had been through a lot and I didn't want to push her too far.

I don't know how long we stayed like this. Eventually, she fell asleep. I couldn't. The images of those insufferable assholes hurting her made me angry. To stop myself from breaking something or going after them, I held her close. Eventually, I lightened my hold.

It was close to two in the morning, according to my bedside clock, when she began mumbling.

"No! No! Let me go!" she cried, unconscious.

She was having a nightmare. Ana rolled away from me, her body twitching. The shirt crumpled further up her body, revealing the marks from where the guy had hit her bum. They were vibrant red. She continued rolling and twitching closer and closer to the edge of the bed.

Just as she was about to roll off, I quickly ran around the bed and caught her. The impact of her body in my arms woke her up. She didn't say anything. She just crushed her lips to mine.