What If I

The Room.

The sound of the door being locked is the only thing I can hear. The sharp clicks are the only thing needed to put me on edge. I sit behind the door, hugging my knees. My stomach growls. I don't attend to it.

He told me that I needed to become skinnier to make it in the industry. He told me that I would be perfect for him if I didn't look how I did. He told me no one wanted me for who I am. He told me they want me for money and that's all.

I don't eat anymore. It just doesn't make me feel any different. I don't feel hungry, and when I do, I just ignore it. I don't feel there's a need for me to eat. Or do anything anymore. To him, I am just an object. Something he can play with. Whenever he wants.

And I let him. I let him because I have no strength to tell him no. I have no words that will change anything.

I hear a notification bell and I see Corey's phone. I crawl to get it off the couch. I hold it between my cold hands. I see a message. It reads, "Corey, I am telling her x I want her to know that your mine and no-one else's."

Tears build up in my eyes. Not because he was cheating. But Debby. She sent the message. She is his. He is her's. I am not his. He is not mine.

I sit up and try to hold back my tears. It's so hard. I push myself up with my shaking hands and run towards the bathroom. I feel a more painful feeling in my stomach. I throw my head over the toilet and vomit. My face stained with tears.

My phone begins to ring. Debby. I answer pressing the phone to my ear.
"Hey Poppy, I have something to tell you-"

"Fuck off Debby, go suck Corey's dick. Good luck with Josh."

I hang up. I quickly dial Josh's number. Pick up, pick up, pick up...

"Hey Poppy, is Debby with you?"
I start crying even more.
"Josh, Debby is cheating on you. She is with Corey."

"Are you kidding, this is some kind of joke- Poppy, don't cry, please. I'm coming over right now."

"He locked me in Josh."

"He treats you like that? I'm going to Matt's right now , and beat the literal shit out of him. I swear-"

"Josh don't."
I said through my sobs.

"No I will. For you. You deserve so much more than that pile of shit. I'm coming to open that door. You'll have fun watching him suffer won't you?"

"No Josh. Don't."

"You can't change my mind Poppy."

He hangs up. Why isn't he sad? Why doesn't he care about Debby cheating?
Why is he so strong?

I close my eyes. I clutch my phone close to my chest and sit still. I hear the door being hit and I instantly know it was Josh.

"Poppy, I'm here. I'm getting worried answer me."

"I can hear you." I respond smiling at the thought of being let out.

I stand up so I don't get hit by the door.

"I can't open it. I'm calling the cops."

"Don't Josh. He will get mad." I hear the pain in his voice.

"1...2...3..." He hits his shoulder into the door and it swings open. He runs towards me and holds me in a tight hug.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Josh asks. His head resting on top of mine. I shake my head side to side. He grips my wrist tightly without knowing and leads me down to his car. I jump in the back. We sit is silence until we arrive.

"Matt's house is across the street." Josh nods and takes my hand as we walk across the road, into their driveway. We don't knock.

"Matt, open the fucking door." I have never seen Josh so angry. He doesn't swear or anything usually. Matt comes to the door and opens it.

"Hey Josh, what's up?" Matt asks quite confused by Josh's tone.

"Move out of the way Matt." Josh pushes past him. I wait until Matt decides to move. We walk straight into the living room to see Corey and Debby cuddling at one end of Matt's couch.

"What the fuck? Why are you guys here?" Corey says moving away from Debby.

"Corey, you know why." Corey stands in front of Josh. They both look at me.