Obsessed

Precaution

Before Benjamin could get another word in, I ran around the house, locking doors, closing all windows and curtains. Just as he called I knew for a fact I was being watched, he was hunting me down. Why did he suddenly now, want to call me?

"Talk about what Ben?" I asked. "About us baby. I miss you." He said. His voice sent uncomfortable chills down my spine. "No. There is no us Benjamin. We're done."

He laughed over the phone and it just showed me how much crazier he has become. "We were never officially over Jackie. You just up and left. But now I see you with Mr. Gold chains. That's infedelity Jackie, and you know I hate infedelity."

I was shaking and I just wished Bruno would walk through the door and just hold me and protect me. "Benjamin, you were abusive, physically and emotionally. You broke my nose and cracked my collar bone, and you expected me to stay? You're a sick bastard Ben."

There was silence over the line. "Jacquelyn, please, we are grown people, and I just want to see you. We can meet in public. Over dinner? Lunch? Coffee maybe?" Possibly if I met him in public, where there is a big crowd around me, I will feel safe.

"Coffee." I say. "Starbucks, at noon." I added. "Great! Thank you, baby. I'll see you then. I'll wear the cologne you love so much."

I hung up the phone, and just took a deep breath. I began to hyperventilate. My anxiety...it was coming upon me.

I ran upstairs and went through my bag, and I grabbed a bottle of Xanax to cure my anxiety.

I was diagnosed with PTSD a month after I left Benjamin. I had never experienced anxiety the way I did then. It's been a year since I've seen Ben, but the memories still lie before me. I have tried to control myself by not taking as much Xanax as I am supposed to. I didn't want to overdose, and most definitely, die.

When I met Bruno, I was off the Xanax for about 2 months, and I found activities to keep my mind off of everything, such as exercising, working in retail, and volunteer work.
____________________________________

I walked into the Starbucks and ordered my coffe. "Fresh brewed coffee please." I ordered. The man smiled at me and as he did, I put my glasses over my eyes and took my receipt. I walked to the back of the shop, and waited for Benjamin to walk in. I brought my bottle of Xanax with me, and I was so tempted to pop another pill, but I pushed it to the bottom of my purse, so I was not motivated.

I saw Benjamin walking along the building and inside. He looked for me and when he saw me he smiled brightly.

Benjamin Cunningham, he was about 5'10, and was built well. He had dark eyes which, to me represented his attitude and behavior. His hair matched his eyes, and to add some color to him, he had a tattoo sleeve on his left arm.

"Jacquelyn, how are you baby?" He came to me and attempted to hug me. I put my hand up, and said, "Go ahead and order your coffee."

He laughed and did as I said. As he ordered, I put cream in my coffee and grabbed sugar to add to it.

Once we were both seated with our coffee, he said, "You look beautiful babe. You even look nice with my initial on your chest." He referred to the B necklace Bruno gave me earlier this morning.

"What do you want Benjamin?" I asked while stirring my coffee. "I just want to talk about us. What we used to have, and what we can have...together." He attempted to grab my hand, but I pulled back. "Benjamin, you hurt me. I loved you, I thought you were my soul mate, and when you couldn't get your way, you abused me, physically and emotionally. Ben, because of you, I'm on medication. I have PTSD."

Benjamin laughed at me when I told him about my condition. "No you don't. You know, you've always been a little over dramatic." I moved my shirt to the side, exposing where surgeons had to cut to readjust my collarbone when Ben cracked it. "This is a little dramatic?"

"I don't want to talk about that anymore Jacquelyn, I already apologized to you for that." He sipped on his coffee. "No, you think I'm going to drop and leave everything I have now, for you. It's not going to happen Ben. I have everything I need. I'm in love with another man, and I will continue to support him until I can't anymore."

Ben laughed once again, "Oh yeah, Mr. Gold Chains. Mr. Fancy Pants." He sarcastically said. "Didn't he cheat on his girlfriend? With you?" I hated the fact, that was the way Bruno and I met. I agree, we should've met in a different way, but when you're drunk...you can't control yourself.

"And didn't you break in and ravage his home with his ex fiancée?" I asked. "I didn't do that." He said, looking away. "So why was this under the sink? In the kitchen?" I threw his bracelet, in which it had his name on it, onto the table. He had nothing else to say.

"You're still the same man, I remember a year ago. A piece of shit, that has nothing better to but beat on women, because he can't handle his own problems." I put my purse on my shoulder and grabbed my coffee.

Benjamin grabbed me by the arm, and by his touch it brought back so many memories. My anxiety was coming upon me, and it was exceeding quickly. "You better sit your ass down Jacquelyn." He said sternly. "Before I make a scene in here."

I opened the top to my coffee and threw all of it in his face. He screamed as the boiling hot coffee burned his skin. "Go fuck yourself Benjamin."

I walked out of Starbucks and drove back home to Bruno's home. I needed to get back to Bruno. At least for one night. I was scared. This was the beginning of revenge. At this point, no one was safe. Especially not me.