Think About Love

Part One: "You Saved Me."

Julie's POV

I shoved my headphones in my ears as I stalked out of my front door. Tears threatened to spill but I held them in, equally as furious as I was sad. I slammed my feet down on the pavement as I walked, blasting the song, "The Show Goes On" by Lupe Fiasco as I aimlessly wandered far away from my home. Minutes earlier, I had walked into my house to find my boyfriend, Dean, of 2 years cheating on me with my stepmother. I couldn't believe him as my face burned red with anger, my hand wasting no time colliding with his cheek, breathing profanities at them both as I ran out of the room. I didn't know where I was going, but I was not going back there. I couldn't bare seeing my stepmother's face, how could she? Me, the girl she raised since I was 7, and she just broke my heart. I didn't want to think about it anymore as I hummed along to the tune of Lupe Fiasco.

All right already
The Show Goes On
All night till the morning
We dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember
When you come up
The Show Goes On

I continued humming until my throat hitched and the tears finally spilled as my favorite part came up.

So no matter what you've been through
No matter what you're in to
No matter what you see
When you look outside your window
Brown grass, or green grass
Pickett fence, or barbed wire
Never ever put them down
You just life your arms higher
Raise them till your arms are tired
Let them know you're there
That you're struggling, surviving
That you're gonna persevere
Yeah
Ain't nobody leaving, nobody going home
Even if they turn the lights out
The show is going on

As the song drew to an end, I was now sobbing. I realized I wasn't as angry anymore, just disappointed. I was a good girlfriend to him, and I gave him 2 long years of my life. I loved him with all of my heart, and I gave him everything he wanted. It was all to waste now. As I continued thinking, it began to grow dark. I turned my music down and I listened to the sound of my feet hitting the pavement as I glanced up, getting a sense of where I was. I had walked pretty far in 5 minutes, I was now just West of town where a lot of the crooks and criminals of my city live. I thought of turning around, but decided against it, not wanting to be anywhere close to the place I used to call home. The idea of that place being secure or happy had disappeared now. I spotted a few cars, but not many people out on the street. The majority were men with their hoods up, but I wasn't afraid. I wasn't feeling anything besides sadness at this point. I was still absorbed in my own thoughts to even process the actions of the man across the street. I didn't see anything wrong when he ran across the road over to me, I assumed he was just getting into his car. I immediately found out my assumptions were wrong as he threw his hand around my mouth and yanked me into an alley about 6 feet ahead. I tried to scream, but he elbowed my ribs to silence me. I gasped in pain. I felt him grope me over my clothes, and my face twisted in disgust. He took his hand off of my mouth to try and get my pants down and I screamed the word "help" with all of my power. I screamed it as many times as possible until he put his hand over my mouth again, prying my legs apart with his knee. He punched me in the stomach and I doubled over, wincing in pain. He continued punching me until I couldn't stand, and I was sprawled out in pain on the cement of the ally. He kicked my head and leaned down, ripping my shirt off of me, continuing to try to get my pants off. I struggled as much as possible, his hand still over my mouth. My screams were muffled, but I tried anyway. He finally got my pants down and he fiddled with his belt buckle. I was sobbing by now, not comprehending what was happening. How much worse could this day get? He was pulling down my underwear when I felt him get lifted off of me, and I opened my eyes. I couldn't see the man, but he had a mop of curls and was holding the man who tried to rape me against the ally wall. He punched him in the jaw and I listened to what he was saying. "You're worthless! She's just a girl! Does this make you feel good, huh?" He swung again. "How could you ruin someone's innocence like that?" He punched the man in the stomach this time. "I swear to God, I'll kill you!" He punched once more. When I heard him say that, I had to stop him. "Please." I said weakly. He turned around, dropping the near lifeless and unconscious man to the ground. When he saw me, he relaxed, running the short 3 steps to me. He kneeled down and I finally got a good look at him. His curls were a deep brown, and his eyes were a emerald green, sparkling beneath the street light that glistened about 20 feet away. He stared intently at me and finally spoke. "Are you alright? Please tell me you're alright. If he did anything to you, I'll end him now. Did he touch you? Please talk to me, I-" I held up a hand to stop him. His plump lips closed and he didn't break the eye contact. I took a breath to speak, but nothing came out. I was so overwhelmed by all that had happened today, and I had to let it out. I whimpered and the tears started again. He looked shocked and sat awkwardly for a moment, but brought me into his arms a few seconds later. He reached out and I flinched, but he pulled me close anyway. "Shhh, I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered in my ear. I sobbed onto his shoulder, trying to contain myself. I felt an anxiety attack coming on as my breathing quickened and my heart beats became more frequent. He must have felt it, because he picked me up and looked at me. "Are you alright? C'mon let's get you home." When he said "home," I frantically shook my head, still crying. "No? You don't want to go home?" He said, confused. "Please, no. Leave me, but just not there." I whispered into his neck. I got my breathing somewhat controlled and he shook his head this time, standing up with me in his arms. "No, no, no. I'll take you to mine. No way I'm leaving you here." I didn't object as his strong arms wrapped around me and he started walking. "You saved me." I whispered, my tears staining his shirt. I knew he heard me when he nodded his head and whispered, "I'd do it again." I didn't have a way of expressing my gratitude, so I just buried my face deeper in his chest and closed my eyes, miraculously drifting to sleep in my unnamed hero's arms.