Falling Apart

Chapter 7

The nearly unrecognizable man on crutches stumbles towards me. My heart races as I take in the deep purple bruise below his eye. I stand still, unable to move as if my feet are glued to the floor and he edges closer to me. Would he hurt me in front of all these people in a public place? Where was David? He lays a swollen hand on my shoulder and I internally scream.

"I'm sorry." he looks down and I feel my mind explode. I feel as if I'm watching this happen, like I'm not inside my own body and I wait for him to attack. After a few seconds of me standing there saying nothing, he speaks again.

"Katherine, talk to me. I said I'm sorry."

"I heard you," I hear David say as he comes from behind me, "and I think she heard you too. Did I say you could speak to her?"

I'm still frozen and continue watching the movie that is my life. David takes my hand and walks me to the parking lot.

"What did he say to you?" he turns me around to face him.

"Nothing, I just, I never want to see him again."

I walk towards my usual parking spot until realizing that my car is still in the shop and wouldn't be ready for pickup for another two hours. My mood has already changed since being around David; he makes me happy. I take the newly found courage and ask him if he could take me to get my car later.

"Oh, I'm really sorry but I have plans. I wish I could cancel but its something really important. I'm sorry." he sighs.

"Oh, no its fine," I brush it off, "I can find a ride."

We exchange goodbyes and I dread the next two hours. How was I going to get a ride? Jenna didn't have a car and my only friend that I met here ended up being phycho. I reach for my phone to call an uber driver to get me but realize that I left my bag inside the building. If Ian is still in there, this won't end well.

Facing my fear, I walk in and find my bag on the floor where I had seen Ian. I must've been so shocked to see him that I dropped my bag. This really is like some dramatic TV show. I take my bag and head for the parking lot again.

"Katherine." I hear a familiar voice call for me.

I turn around and sure enough, it's Ian. With the leftover courage I had from earlier with David, I use it up on him.

"Get away from me. I don't want to see you ever again." I spit.

"Baby, we can work this out."

"No. Don't call me that. There is nothing to work out and you're going to leave me alone from now on."

"Am I?" he grins and his bruise tightens, "What makes you so sure of that? You're boyfriend isn't here to protect you now."

All my bravery disappears as soon as I realize we are the only two in this hallway. No ones here to witness anything and Ian could easily hurt me once again.

"I said I'm sorry, Katherine. Now let me take you out and we can forget about all of this." he says casually.

"I meant what I said, Ian. Sorry doesn't fix anything. Get away from me." I quickly exit the building and hope his crutches will slow him down but they don't seem to do what I hoped for. He uses them to swing himself faster towards me and once again, I'm running away from the monster.

I look side to side to try and find anyone, but I'm alone and can only keep running. I turn behind me to see how close Ian is, and suddenly run right into someone.

"Katherine? What are you doing?" Jenna complains as we both tackle to the ground.

"We need to leave, now. Get up, hurry!" I pant and grab her with me.