The Promise

21) Aurora

My blood runs cold at hearing his voice fill the hallway. He's yelling at Dionne and she's crying. I remember my father's voice as he yelled at us and close my eyes flinching.

"You get to say this elsewhere, where is she, Dionne!" he yells again and I enter the apartment.

"I'm here" I say voice cold and numb, but my head is a mess.

"Aurora! Where have you been!" Dionne looks up and runs towards me hugging me, my heart aches at the sight of her. She's crying and all because of me again, I'm the cause of someone getting hurt for the second time today.

"I was so worried why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you take your phone with you?"

"I forgot" I tell her looking at him behind her, I feel so much rage and hate inside me; I feel like I'm looking at my father. He's looking at me with unreadable eyes, but he's not my concern right now.

"Let's get you going, Dionne; it's late already" I tell her softly smoothing her hair as she nods and we go to our place and close the door. I take her to her room and help her change, my heart aches for her; she doesn't deserve this. I help her remove the smears of mascara and makeup from her face and get her to bed pulling the duvet above her. I sit next to her and smooth her hair back, "I'm sorry, Di"

"it's okay, you're safe; I was so scared" she murmurs hugging my waist burying her face in my stomach.

"I didn't mean to scare you" I say mind tired already.

"Are you okay?" she asks looking at me with tears in her eyes.

"I'll be" she nods and hugs me tighter.

"Please, if you go out again tell me, I won't control you, but just let me know, please" she looks at me with pleading eyes.

"I just wanted some time alone, but I'll tell you"

After a couple of minutes of us holding each other,

"Why did you get worried, Dionne?", I ask.

She sits up instantly "Are you fucking serious! You were missing for 8 hours; how can I be calm and normal!?"

"I mean, I'm not anything to you, I just came days ago"

She looks at her hands in her lap "I don't know, I get attached easily and I know this is early, but..." she trails off.

"But what, Di?"

"But I needed you, I ached for having a roommate; for someone to live with and I was scared she might be a menace, but you were everything I wanted" she looks up at me, "I really don't know why I freaked out today or him, but we were worried, so much" she says as I frown remembering him.

"I'll let you sleep, Di" I tell her as she slides back into her bed and I kiss her temple, "I needed you too, Di"

I close the lights and the door behind me when I feel it, I'm caring for her and she feels very different; like a child that needs protection from the world.

I clench my fists closing my eyes, my raging thoughts haven't calmed down after these hours of sitting alone and after smoking a whole 2 packages of cigarettes.

I can't let this happen,

I can't let father beat my brother,

I can't let Omer yell at her,

I can't stand and be silent; not anymore.

I open my eyes and I head for his apartment.

He opens the door of his apartment and surprise passes through his eyes when he sees me, he opens the door wider for me to enter.

I walk inside slowly hearing him close the door, my heels click on the tiles, I stop in the middle of the apartment. I lift my chin and spin to face him as he looks at me like a predator assessing his prey, but unfortunate for him; I'm not a prey and he's about to taste the venom of my fangs.

"Who gave you the right to raise your voice at someone like that?" I ask with lethal quietness.

He doesn't answer as I take a step towards him "answer me, boss" I push.

"No one" he says.

My blood starts boiling "So, you are saying that you're free to go around and yell and give orders as well?"

I go on.

"You tell me it's okay to hurt people all you want because you fucking feel like it!?"

He still doesn't respond. I still go on.

"It doesn't give you the right to do this and take advantage of people because of your authority" my voice fills the place; I start to lose it feeling the rage from all day build up on the surface.

I spin around trying to calm myself rubbing my face, but all in vain.

I look back at him taking more steps towards him, "Listen, you mind your goddamn business; you have no right to ask where I go and where I don't"

I jab his chest with a finger, "I. am. free. I'm free to do whatever I want; go wherever I want and talk to whoever I want" I yell and he doesn't budge.

"I didn't come here to this country, alone to be controlled again! I didn't ask for someone's concern, I. don't. want. Anyone to care for me or my well-fucking-being, you hear me!"

I feel heat run through my whole body as tears start to pour from my eyes, but I don't care, "I don't want anyone near, I don't want anyone to treat me nicely, I am okay on my own; in my dark place because I don't want anyone to hurt me anymore! and no one will!"

"So, know your limits and stay away because you are no one to me, none! So, back off and don't stick your nose into my affairs, Omer!" I pant

He does the only thing I didn't expect.

He smiled.

That made my insides burn more.

"Say it again" he says voice and face calm.

I wrinkle my face "Say what?"

"My first name"

I realize what I said and remember Dionne's words and how much I talked,

"Listen, I didn't mean to-

"Say. It"

I take a deep breath taking a step back as I realize I got very close to him.

"I don't know what game are you playing, but don't fucking play with me" I pause then say challenge in my voice "Omer".

He smiles again, left dimple showing and I back away heading for the door and slam the door behind me on my way out.

Fuck. What have I done to myself?