How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

22- I Know

Anthony

I sit in my car and watch as the silver car pulls out of Eddies garage and he drives off down the street. I wait for a few minutes to make sure he was really gone and that he doesn't come back before I get out of my car and walk down the sidewalk for a while. I go over to the window at the side of their house and start to mess with it. I knew he had cameras at the doors but not at the side of the house. The glass window was open so all I had to do was pop the screen out and I could get in.

I quietly climb through the window and set the screen to the side. I had to go back out of it so there was no sense in putting it back just yet. I take off my shoes so I don't make any sounds in case he had other things set up in here and go in search for Clara.

I walk around for a while before I hear classical music playing. I know that was her because she always listened to it when she painted, she claims that it helps her calm down and stay focused. So I head towards where the music was coming from and find a door partially closed. Once I get closer the smell of paint fills my senses and I smile, I haven't smelled fresh paint for what felt like forever. I missed it. I slowly open the door and see Clara facing the wall as she painted. Her long hair in a pony tail, it was back to her original color as it sat across her back. The room was decorated like a field with flowers and it reminds me of her room back at my place. It's nice to know that it was the real her I fell in love with this whole time. That she's always had this beautiful soul that reflected into everything around her.

"Clara" I say softly and she stops moving. She slowly sets her paint brush down before cleaning it off.

"I don't know if that's really you, or if my mind is playing some really mean trick on me again" she whispers and I feel like someone stabbed me right in my gut. That's not what I wanted to hear.

"It's me" I assure her and she turns the music off.

"What are you doing here" she asks as she still faces the painting.

"I needed to see you" I say.

"You don't want to see me" she claims.

"That's all I want" I insist.

She finally turns around and I feel all the air sucked out of my lungs. I see she had a black eye and a deep cut under it. Her lip was busted and she had a scratch going from the top of her cheek bone all the way down to her chest. It looked like she was attacked by a wild animal or something.

"Oh my god" I whisper as she adverts her eyes to the ground. I knew she felt ashamed but that's not what I wanted from her. I just wasn't expecting that from her being here just a few weeks.

"This is me, Anthony" she claims.

"This is not you. This is what he did to you, but it's certiantly not who you are" I insist.

"This is all I know" she whispers.

"This isn't who I fell in love with" I say and she looks back into my eyes. "I fell in love with a beautiful girl who only saw the great things this world had to offers. A girl who had nothing but great things to paint, to show the world. This is not you" I insist.

"This is me when I'm with him" she explains and I shake my head.

"I don't like it. I'm getting you out of here" I insist.

"You don't get it Anthony... this" she says pointing to her face. "This is way less painful than me being out there knowing that he's going to do something stupid to the people I love. This has to happen for me to have any sense of security about the things I care about most" she insists.

"You don't deserve that. You should be treated like a queen. You should be given flowers and kisses, not blows to your face. Someone should tell you every single day how incredible you are. You have enough talent for dozens of people and should be celebrated for who you are and what you can do. There is no reason you should be living like this" I say.

"There is a reason, a it's damn good one too" she claims.

"Is it love" I sigh. "Is it because you love me" I ask. She gives me the best smile she could with her swollen lip.

"It's all for you" she claims.

I pull her out of her chair and into my arms. A hug that was much over due and I couldn't wait any longer for it. Her fingers get tangled in my shirt like always and for the first time since she left I felt alive again. She sobs into my chest as I squeeze her tight. I hold her so close that it would almost be impossible for me to let her go. I feel her breathing even out and I could tell she had calmed down a little. I keep my eyes shut as I familiarize myself with her once again. Afraid that when I open them she will be gone.

"Please don't leave me" she sniffles.

"I'm always going to be with you. Keep me in your heart and I'll always be here" I assure her.

"I want to be in your arms" she whispers.

"I promise I'm going to get you out of here. And you're not going to be stuck in my apartment. You're going to be free and happy and living life to the fullest. You're way too amazing of a girl for it to happen any other way" I insist.

"I'll be here waiting" she smirks and I laugh. I kiss her forehead and let my lips linger.

"I have to go" I say.

"I know" she claims.

"But I'll be back for you" I promise.

"I know" she laughs.

"I love you Clara" I sigh. "So much."

"I know, Anthony" she teases. "I love you too" she assures me and I smile.

And just like that I climb back out the side of the window and out of sight of the cameras. I climb in my car and sit there for a while. I tap my steering wheel and try to devise a plan where I can get her out of there and for him to leave her alone. But without him being detained there is no way he will leave her alone. But no one in that system would believe me over one of their own. Even with Clara looking like she does he can lie and she will defend him so he doesn't hurt her further. I hated that he had so much power and the fact he knew he had power. I wanted nothing more than the downfall of that man and I wanted to watch it happen.