Mending A Broken Angel

Chapter 4: The Morning After

After breakfast and a quick shower, I got dressed while he waited in the car, keys already in the ignition. After we toured Coca Cola world, the Georgia Aquarium, a show at the Fox Theater, and Centennial, I was convinced the city was magical. My preconceived notions about what the city had to offer were completely wrong. I felt like a little kid in a new, colorful world of imagination. Our last stop was Piedmont Park. We ate frozen yogurt while walking the trail and gazing at the stars.

"So, what do you think? I know it's not as glamorous as New York was, but I hope it exceeded your expectations," Hakim said in between giggles.

"There were too many buildings in the way of the stars back home. This is beautiful. Thank you," I say stopping to look into his eyes. I could see the city sparkle in them. It was like looking at everything this new world had to offer right in his eyes. Like nothing else mattered.

When I saw a figure behind him stop dead in his tracks when he saw me, I knew no matter how beautiful this city was, my past would always bring out the ugliest parts of me. It was him. The man my nightmares had made into my reality. The man holding the sadness behind my smile. The man who always reminded me that I could never escape myself.

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2 YEARS AGO

The party was beyond lame. Everyone was either drinking, smoking, or screwing; none of which I expected to participate in any time soon. The entire place reeked of bad decisions and illegal activity. I walked to the balcony to get some fresh air. I hated that I felt like I needed to be here to fit in. I hated that I felt the need to fit in. I hated all of it. While I was on my mental rant, a guy came up beside me. No one was out here, as they enjoyed that stupid sweaty party, so I was surprised someone would be out here, especially because of the cold wind blowing so harshly our here.

"Out here to escape?" I said to the mysterious figure standing next to me.

"On the contrary, I was out here looking for you."

This was the first time I had actually looked up at the guy standing close to me. He was a blonde with green eyes and a smile looking for a prize. He looked older than me, but not in the creepy grandfather kind of way; more like the overly experienced kind of way.

"I'm Eli." He stated reaching out a hand to shake mine.

"I'm Angel." I said.

"You are. What are you doing out here all alone?"

His voice felt almost intoxicating. I tried my hardest to resist the need to melt in his arms right there. We talked for what felt like forever. I found out that he was a junior at Ohio State and was visiting family here before leaving to go back to school the next day. He was sweet, at times it felt rather cheesy, but sweet nonetheless. When couples decided to come out there and make out, he took me into a small room for us to talk.

The room was dark, and it was hard to find Eli after he closed the door.

"Eli?" I said looking around. "Eli, this not funny. I hate the dark. Where the hell are you?" Still no answer. When I was about to walk out, I felt his arms wrap around my waist and his lips on my neck. He smelled like alcohol. Maybe it was just my first time noticing, or I didn't want to notice, but Eli was rather tipsy. I knew what he was doing, and I knew I didn't want to go that far with him, especially after only knowing him for an hour.

I tried to shake him off of me, but he was exceptionally strong. He whipped me around and threw me on a bed that I previously didn't realize was there. I tried to scream, but my mouth and nose were covered by his hands. While he struggled with my pants, I kicked and squirmed, but he got the better of me. The last thing I felt was a sharp pain pushing inside of me, and his green eyes, that now seem more venomous than charming, staring down into me. I woke up the next morning alone on bloody sheets.

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That was the day I got my wings. They were my blissful illusion that I could fly away, even if I knew I couldn't. No one has ever seen them, and I desperately want to keep it that way, but the closer I get to Hakim, the closer he gets to the breaking down of my walls.