Living With Ian

Chapter 8

When Ian got out the front door he looked around. Sarah had already made it to the parking lot and Ian could tell she wasn’t planning on stopping any time soon.

“Sarah,” he called. His voice only made her start running faster. Ian ran after her.

She ran for several blocks until she reached a park. She pushed through the gate and continued running down the sidewalk. She knew Ian was catching up to her. She could hear his footsteps and his heavy breathing. His muscles were used to this kind of physical activity; hers weren’t.

“Sarah,” Ian said again. It surprised her how close he was. She jumped as she felt his hand brush her wrist. She pushed away from him and started running harder.

She had gone off the sidewalk when she tripped over a hidden root. Sarah couldn’t find the strength to get back up. Ian jogged over to her. Sarah curled up on the ground and cried. Ian picked her up and started cradling her.

“Go away,” she said, gasping for air.

“I’m sorry,” Ian said. “Sarah, I’m so sorry.”

“Put me down,” she cried. She tried to squirm around in his arms but Ian didn’t flinch. Ian looked around the park and then he started carrying her back. He didn’t like Sarah being out here in the dark, even with him around. He knew what activity happened within the trees at night and it wasn’t something he wanted Sarah to be a witness to. Sarah tried to struggle away but then she gave up. She was just too tired.

She watched as Ian carried her and she was surprised at how short she had ran before he had been able to catch up to her.

When they got to Ian’s apartment, Sarah saw that he had left the door wide open in the haste to chase after her. He led her inside and laid her down on the sofa. He closed the door behind him before he sat down on the sofa and tried to pull Sarah closer to him. Sarah pushed further away.

“I need to tell you what happened,” Ian said.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Sarah said.

“Well I’m going to tell you anyways.” Sarah looked up at him. Ian sighed.

“My dad used to beat my mom,” he said. “It was really bad at times. And I was just a kid, I couldn’t defend her. Finally, my mom had enough courage to kick him out and divorce him. And then we were really happy. It seemed like we were turning into the perfect family once he was out of the picture. That’s why I was so surprised to see my older sister start dating a jerk that would hit her. One day, she came home with a black eye. She promised me that it was an accident and she swore that she loved him but I just couldn’t see it. When I saw the man at a club later that night I completely lost it on him. I took out everything that I wasn’t able to take out on my dad onto him. I almost killed him but I realized what I was doing and I managed to stop. I had to leave him in the alley and just walk away.” Sarah looked up at him.

“It was completely irrational but ever since I watched my mom get beat up and not be able to do anything because I was a helpless child. I started working at the gym in order to be strong so that I would never feel helpless again. And I let out all of my bottled up anger onto that guy without thinking twice.” Sarah continued to stare at him silently.

“I felt the exact same way tonight. Seeing the look you had on your face, the way you were so terrified, I wanted to kill him.” Sarah flinched slightly. “I think of you as my little sister Sarah. And I don’t want to see anything happening to you. Especially not under my roof and while you are under my watch.” Sarah looked away.

“I can take care of myself,” she said quietly.

“No,” Ian argued. “You can’t. And you proved that tonight. There are some things that you can’t stop, no matter how hard you try. And I know you hate that helpless feeling. I know because I’ve felt it a million times before too. But I’m here to make you feel safe. I’ll protect you.” Ian pulled Sarah’s chin up to where she was looking into his dark eyes. “If you’ll let me.” Sarah looked at him for a moment before she nodded. Ian gave a small smile.

“Come here,” he said. Sarah crawled over into his open arms. Ian held her tightly. Sarah looked up at him.

“Please promise me you’ll never do that again.” Ian looked down at her.

“I promise,” he said. “I’ll try really hard to not let my anger get in control of me. But know that I would never in a billion years do anything to harm you in any way.” Sarah nodded.

“It scared me,” she admitted. Ian looked down at her. He had only known her for a short amount of time but he still knew that she wouldn’t admit something like that unless she had been absolutely terrified. Ian picked her up and carried her into his bedroom. He laid her down in his bed and tucked her in. Sarah looked up at him.

“Will you lay with me?” she asked quietly. Ian looked at her and smiled.

“Scoot over.” Sarah slid over in bed and watched as Ian got under the blankets with her. He wrapped her up in his arms. Sarah rested her head on his chest.

“Ian?” she asked.

“Hmm?”

“Where’s your sister now?” Ian looked down at Sarah.

“In Florida,” he said. “With her husband and their son. They’re expecting another baby.” Sarah nodded.

“Do you like her husband?” Ian smiled.

“Yeah I do. After the whole club incident, she realized what an ass he was and she started seeing her husband. He’s really good to her.” They were silent for a little while.

“Sarah?” Ian asked.

“Yeah?”

“Where’s your dad?” Sarah looked up at him.

“He died,” she said quietly. Ian looked down at her. “When I was eleven. He had cancer.”

“I’m sorry.” Sarah shrugged.

“I was so scared,” she said. “Coming home from the hospital that night. I knew that mom would be able to do whatever she wanted to do to me and nobody would be there to stop her anymore.” Ian’s hands wrapped around Sarah tighter. “I cried for two months straight after he died and no matter how hard mom hit me I just couldn’t stop.”

“You must really miss him,”” Ian said. Sarah nodded.

“He was the only one in my family who ever showed me any kind of love.” Sarah smiled as she remembered her father. “Sometimes at night, he would sneak out into the hallway where I would be sleeping and he would just hold me.” Sarah looked up at him.

“You remind me of him,” she told him. “The way you’re so overprotective of me.” Ian smiled.

“You remind me of my sister,” he said. “The way you’re so damn stubborn.” Sarah laughed. She rested her head on his chest.

“Go to bed Sarah.” Sarah nodded and closed her eyes.