How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

14- Thank You

Anthony

*crash*

Like a flash I sit up in bed and look around my dark room. My eyes were wide open as I try to figure out where the sounds were coming from. It was pitch black so I couldn't see much but my other senses were heightened as I try to figure out what woke me. The sounds had stopped by now, but all I could hear is the pounding of my heart against my chest.

I suddenly hear some more faint sounds and decide to grab a bat and figure out what the hell was going on. Because if Eddie somehow found his way into my apartment there isn't much that's going to stop me from using this bat to give him the years of hurting he put on Clara.

I slowly open the door and look around the hallway. I don't see anything right away so I start to tip toe around the apartment. I walk around and I don't hear or see anything that meant that there was a real danger so I put the bat down. I decide I should probably go check on Clara to make sure she's okay.

I see her door was open and I thought it was peculiar. She never sleeps with her door open. So I walk in the wide open door and start to look around. Originally I don't see her anywhere and I start to panic. It looked like she was in her bed not too long ago but she was obviously gone now.

I hear some sniffling from inside the room and I stop freaking out for a second to figure out where it's coming from. I finally find Clara in the corner of her room curled up in a ball. I was relieved that she was still here and he wasn't, but I wasn't exactly sure why she was down here. Was the big crash I heard her falling out of bed? Maybe she was sleep waking or something.

I walk over to where she was huddled in the corner and bend down to see how she's doing. I set my hand on her knee and she starts to scream. Just yelling about how she didn't want to get hurt.

"Please! No! Don't hit me" she begs as she pushes my hand away.

"Claire! It's me, it's Anthony. I'm here to help you, okay? I'm never going to hurt you, remember" I say and she stops fighting me. She finally looks up and I could see so much fear in her eyes. They look around the room before she finally settles down and her eyes fall on me. I grab her hands so she would calm down and I can see the tears sitting on her face. She was shaking terribly as she starts to slow her breathing down. I wasn't sure what to do, I don't know what the protocol for this is and frankly probably wouldn't be able to do it anyway.

"Please don't hurt me" she whispers.

"Clara... look at me. I'm not going to hurt you" I say while wiping a tear away. "But you gotta tell me what's happening" I admit.

"I'm scared he's going to get me" she says.

"You're safe here" I assure her.

"But not here" she says pointing to her head. "I can't sleep. Every time I dream it becomes a nightmare. No matter where I hide, no matter what I do he always finds me" she whispers.

"Do you trust me" I ask her. She nods her head but I let out a long breath. "I need to hear you say it" I insist.

"I trust you, Anthony."

Without another word I softly pick her up off the floor and carry her to my room. Her eyes never leave mine as I cradle her in my arms, my hold on her tight so she knows I got her. Once I get to my room I lay her down softly in my bed and she watches me carefully as I crawl in next to her. She sits there leaning against the headboard as the light from outside shines into the room. I could see her glassy blue eyes shining, she was too afraid to blink. I knew she didn't sleep well but I didn't know this was why.

"I'm going to lay you down" I tell her and she nods. I grab her hips and pull her down before I pull the blankets over her because I know she's cold a lot. She was quite small and hated wearing clothes so she usually had a blanket around her shoulders while she was in the house as long as she wasn't painting.

Once she gets settled down I pull her towards me so her body was against mine. Her chest was pressed up against my chest and I could feel her heart beating in time with mine. Her eyes were set on mine as I make it so we were both comfortable, her legs get tangled up in mine. I softly caress her cheek and she rests her hand on top of mine. Her touch was still scared but still so kind. She takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist before she placed my hand back on her cheek. I move my hand to the back of her neck and rest my forehead on hers. I softly massage the back of her neck as we just lay there. Nothing but the sound of our breathing filled the room.

"Anthony" she says softly.

"Yeah Claire" I whisper.

"I'm sorry I'm such a mess" she says and I shake my head against hers.

"I don't want you apologizing anymore" I insist. "You shouldn't apologize for what happened to you or what's happened because of it. You shouldn't lose sleep because some sleazy guy decided that since his life was sub par he had to make your life sub par too. Life has been so cruel to you and I refuse to let you apologize for it any more" I insist.

"Can I still tell you thank you" she asks.

"Not for letting you stay here or for taking care of you, no" I say.

"What about for being the person I prayed for years for? Or for caring about me more than some men care about their wives? Maybe for being the most incredible guy I have ever met in my life" she lists off.

"Yeah, that's fine" I joke and she laughs.

"Then thank you, Anthony" she says and I smile.

I move her closer and rest her head on my chest. She wraps her arms around me as I hold her close.

"Go to sleep" I encourage and she nods her head. Not even five minutes later she was sound asleep laying in my arms.

I watch her as she sleeps, she seemed so peaceful. I wanted nothing more than for her to turn out okay, but I'm not so sure anymore.

~

I wake up late the next morning to no alarm or loud sounds. No smell of coffee or bacon, but that's okay. I was more than okay with figuring out breakfast if it meant she got some sleep for once.

Not too long after I woke up she starts to stir. I softly rub her arm I was holding as her eyes flutter open. She smiles big once she realized where she was and who she was with.

"How did you sleep" I ask as my voice cracks. Always does first thing when I wake up.

"That was the best sleep I've had in years" she admits and that makes me smile.

"How about I go grab us some Panera for breakfast" I offer.

"That sounds wonderful" she admits.

"Banana strawberry smoothie and a plain bagel with cream cheese" I ask and she nods. "Perfect" I say as I jump out of bed.

"Oh, and Anthony" she says.

"Yeah" I ask as I turn back around.

"Thank you" she smiles and I shake my head.