Like a Moth to a Flame

Lisa 21

Time slows down to a crawl and there's this ringing in my ears I can't get rid of when Sam says what I had begun to fear the more I spoke to James. I can feel my heart racing and the tear involuntarily begin to saturate my notebook. 

"I'm...I'm sorry Lisa. I didn't mean to hurt you or piss you off. But I thought you knew. If I hadn't gone to that asshole's apartment that night, he would've done the same thing to you because that's the kind of sick bastard he was. He got off to this crap and I wasn't going to let him get away with it." Sam says as a tear trickles down his cheek.

Andrew grabs a tissue and hands it to me, giving me this shamed look like he knew this revelation. Sam continues. "He was such a damn coward, preying on women. Making them paranoid. Preying on their vulnerability and weaknesses. He chose women he knew he could control. Women he knew were easy targets. He tried fighting me and for a minute, I thought he might just kill me, but my sisters pleas replayed in my mind and the terrified look on her face flashed across my mind as I took control and plunged that knife into him time and time again. I did it for her. I did it for the women before her. And I did it for the women that could've been next."

I stand up and round the table and hug Sam for his bravery. For putting an end to the evilness that James was. I had a feeling that I sadly ignored for so long, that something wasn't quite right about James, but I thought he just wanted to be heard. I just thought he wanted a friend to be there for him. Not a potential victim.

I begin to cry and so does Sam but I can feel Andrew's hands gently pulling me off of Sam. "I'm sorry Lisa but you're not allowed to touch him." Sam nods his head and I sit back down in my seat, trying to compose myself.

Andrew breaks the silence. "Sam, is there anything else you'd like to say or ask Lisa?" "No. I've said all I wanted to and I don't regret anything. I'd do anything to protect my family." "Very well then. Officer Hughes will escort you back to your cell. Your lawyer said he'd be by this afternoon to prep you for your court appearance tomorrow" Andrew says as we both stand up and begin walking towards the door. 

"Lisa?" Sam says as he stands up, an officer holding one of his arms. "Take care of yourself. And remember, monsters do exist. Sometimes they look just like you and I but eventually the mask falls off and if you're lucky enough, you'll be around to see them get sent back to hell."

I half smile as I wish him luck and thank him for speaking to me.

Andrew walks me out to my car and hugs me quickly before sending me on my way. 

The next few days and weeks, Andrew keeps me up to date on the trial even though at times it felt like he didn't want to. Sam pleads guilty to first degree murder and is sentenced to 10 years in prison.

My life seems brighter now with Andrew by side and the monster disguised as a friend, now dead. I cant help but cry when my mind wanders to the what ifs but that calming feeling overcomes me as soon as the thought of Andrew fills my mind.

Andrew walks into the bedroom where I'm seated and he wraps his arms around me, gently kissing the side of my head as he whispers, "I love you baby. Its gonna be ok."

The tears fall for Sam's sister. For the women before her. For Andrew. And for Sam. My hero.