Taste Of Her

[10] - you chocked me.

Elyana

I barely had the strength to push open the front door before stepping inside, my legs heavy like they didn't want to carry me anymore. My throat still ached, my head was pounding, and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and pretend today never happened.

But before I could even take a deep breath, there was a loud knock at the door.

I froze.

For a second, my heart jumped to the worst possibility—that somehow, he was here. That Chase had followed me, that he wasn't done with whatever sick game he was playing.

Another knock, harder this time. "Ana, open the damn door."

I let out a shaky breath, my body instantly relaxing at the sound of Hawa's voice. Of course she followed me. I should've known she wouldn't just let me leave like that.

Dragging myself back to the door, I unlocked it and pulled it open. Hawa stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. But her eyes—her eyes were scanning me, taking in every inch of my face, searching for something.

I sighed. "Hawa, I—"

She didn't let me finish. She pushed past me, stepping inside like she owned the place, slamming the door shut behind her. "Yeah, no. I'm not leaving you alone tonight."

I blinked. "Hawa—"

"Don't Hawa me," she snapped, turning to face me, and for the first time today, I realized just how angry she was. Not annoyed. Not frustrated. Angry. "Ana, what the fuck just happened back there?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it. I didn't even know where to start.

She scoffed, shaking her head. "No, seriously. Chase choked you, in front of everyone, and now you're just walking around like—like it didn't happen?"

I swallowed, my hands curling into fists at my sides. "What do you want me to say, Hawa?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said, throwing her hands up. "Maybe anything that tells me you actually give a shit about what just happened to you!"

I flinched.

Hawa noticed immediately. She exhaled sharply, running a hand over her face before speaking again, softer this time. "Ana, I'm sorry. I just—" She shook her head. "I saw your face. When he had his hands on you. I saw how scared you were. And now you're acting like it's just... nothing?"

I felt the lump in my throat grow, but I forced myself to push it down. "Because if I think about it too much, I'll fall apart."

Silence.

Hawa's eyes softened. "Then fall apart," she said simply.

I shook my head. "I can't."

"Yes, you can." She stepped closer, and suddenly, her hands were on my shoulders, gripping me tightly, grounding me. "Ana, you don't have to be strong all the time."

My vision blurred. My body was still sore, my chest still tight, and Hawa was looking at me like she was waiting for me to just let go.

And for the first time since Chase put his hands on me, I did.

A sob ripped through my chest before I could stop it. My legs gave out, and before I could hit the ground, Hawa caught me, pulling me into a tight hug. I buried my face in her shoulder, the tears coming faster now, my whole body shaking.

"I got you," she whispered, her hand rubbing slow circles on my back. "I got you, Ana."

I don't know how long we stood there, but Hawa didn't let go. Not until my sobs turned into quiet sniffles, not until my breathing evened out.