The Religious & The Damaged

44

One week later...

Joseph

  I walk out of the church and press my back against the brick wall because I feel lightheaded, and I'm also waiting for Kelsey to come out, so I can make sure she's okay.

  I haven't really talked to her since she dragged me to the party, and even then, we didn't really talk much because she disappeared like immediately, and she looked upset during the service.

  I wait for half an hour before I realize she's not coming out.

  I peer into the church and I don't see her.

  She must've left through a different door, but just in case, I walk back in and into the hall leading to the bathrooms.

  "Kel?" I call out, and I make sure to be quiet as to not alarm anyone.

  I walk past the bathrooms but stop at the sudden sound of muffled crying.

  I tense and turn.

  I step forward and lift a reluctant hand to the door to knock, and I lean the side of my face to the door as I call out again.

  "Kel? Is that you?"

  No response.

  I gulp hard as I step back, and my gaze shifts from side to side to make sure no one's around before I walk into the girls bathroom.

  Immediately, my eyes land on Kelsey as she stands in front of the mirror—her back to me.

  I walk over and place a hand on her back. "Hey, are you-"

  She moves from my touch and turns to face me, but her gaze is directed down.

  "Please..." Desperation and despair is heavy in her voice, and my brows furrow upward as worry settles in, and the fact that just that reaction seems too familiar.

  I take a respectful step back.

  "Okay." I comply, my voice gentle.

  She sniffles, her shaky hand reaching to wipe her nose and she blinks at me, tears streaming down her face.

  I don't speak.

  I wait for her to talk to me instead.

  She chokes out a sob before falling against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her—my cheek against her head and my grasp tightens at the sound of her sobs.

  I feel the dampness of my shirt start to form, but I don't care.

  I just hold her.

  "I can't take it anymore." She cries out, and my heart feels heavy at her words. "He just won't stop.."

  My body tenses, and I'm sure she feels it.

  "I can't take it anymore." She repeats.

  "You can tell me..." I reassure her, worry heavy in my voice. "I'm here, Kel."

  A muffled sob escapes her before she speaks again. She says, "He.." Another sob comes. "It wasn't bad before, but these last few months have been-" She cries. "I can't.. I can't say it..."

  I lean back, a shaky breath slipping from my lips as my gaze meets hers; my hands on each of her arms as I become engrossed in the rush of anger and disgust that runs through me, and what follows is memories of my own experience in what I think is happening.

  "Does he.."

  My eyes shut tight, and my disgust intensifies as the word slips from my lips.

  "Rape you?" I ask.