Save Me. (Matthew Espinosa)

Chapter 3 - New Hope

Matt's POV

"Save me." Lacey cries out. I turn around to see her beautiful eyes wide with desperation, watery with sadness and I'm instantly aware that she isn't joking.

"Did he do this to you? Your dad?" I question, concern deeply rooted within my words. She only looks down to her lap, a single tear trickling down her face. That's all the confirmation I need. I have to get her out of here, away from her dad. But the question is, how?

"I-I.." I struggle to form a sentence.

"Matthew. Please," She pleads quietly, tears spilling over her water line and down her cheeks. I look around, panicked slightly but trying to appear calm so I don't frighten her any more than she already is.

"Let's start with getting you dressed. Where are your clothes?" I question trying to keep my voice calm so she knows there's nothing to be nervous about. Her finger points to a cabinet in the far right corner of the room.

"Can you, um.. Help me put them on?" she asks, sounding embarrassed.

"Only if you're comfortable with it." I then shut the door to her room and lock it behind me. I stride over to the cabinet and swing the door open, revealing a pile of folded up clothes with a pair of Vans on top. After collecting her clothes, I return to the side of her hospital bed.

I remove the bed sheets from her and help her to sit on the side of the bed, legs dangling off the edge. I gently place my hands on her hips and hoist her up to her feet. I let her hands grasp my upper arms for support as I untie the back of her hospital gown, maintaining eye contact with her. She removes her hands for just a moment to slide the flimsy gown from her body, revealing her in nothing but her under garments. She looks down and blushes at the thought of me seeing her body exposed, but I try my best and keep my eyes from flickering downwards.

Her cheeks are a shade of pink as she twirls her finger around, signaling for me to turn around until she needs further assistance. I do as told, turning around and I can't help but think about the peculiar situation I've found myself in. I hadn't met Lacey twenty minutes ago and am already helping her escape from her dad. But I feel like I have some sort of connection with her that's unlike anybody else I have ever encountered and I know that she really needs my help.

"Matthew.. I.." she speaks making me turn around to face her. She had only gotten on her shirt in the amount of time I had been turned around. Her jeans still have to be put on but her leg wrap is in the way.

"I think we're going to have to cut off your, umm, wrap.. Unless you have any other plans?"

She shrugs her shoulders, shaking her head slightly.

"Okay, I'll be right back. I'll tell them I want to make Cameron some paper snowflakes or something." I joke, winking with a grin on my face.

Lacey's POV

I sit on the edge of the uncomfortable bed and await Matt's return, resting the sheets over my bare legs in case someone walks in. It's odd. I've only just met Matthew and for some reason I already feel as though I can trust him. I feel like he actually cares about me and likes me. But, then again, those odds are unlikely. Still, why would he help me if he doesn't?

"I'm baaack!" he playfully sings while dancing into the room with a pair of scissors in hand. He always seems so happy and playful.

"Matt, we have to hurry," I say, somewhat worriedly. "My dad might come looking for me soon." He turns around, shutting the door and locking it. He advances back over to me. His face wears the most stunning, toothy smile I have ever seen. He drops to his knees in front of me and I find it a little amusing as he struggles to cut off the cloth wrapped around my leg.

"I think this will do," he says proudly. "Might as well get this one too while we're at it." After his words, he stands back up and cuts the wrap on my arm off.

A sudden knock on the door causes me to look up to Matt with wide eyes and I place my finger over his lips, signaling him to keep his mouth shut.

"Y-yes?" I question the unknown person at the door.

"Dear, why is your door locked?" a female voice says and I feel pretty relieved that it's not my father.

"Oh. Umm.. I-I'm changing." I leave out the bit where there's a boy in my room who's planning on helping me escape from my abusive dad.

"Okay. Well I'll leave a wheel chair outside your door and whenever your ready I'll wheel-"

"Yes ma'am, thank you!" I cut her off. I look back up to Matthew and he reaches for my pants to continue dressing me. I remove the sheet from my legs and shakily stand, placing my hands on his shoulders to keep me upright. I slip my legs into them and he pulls them all the way up my legs. After, he slips my socks and shoes on my feet, tying the laces. Once changed, I look at him with a grateful smile on my lips. He returns the gesture and stands to his full height, now peering down at me.

"Hmm.." He looks over me skeptically.

"What?" I inquire, furrowing my brow.

He removes the dark beanie from his head and the sunglasses from the collar of his shirt and places them on me. "There. That makes you less recognizable." I sure hope so, I think to myself.

He then snakes his strong arm around my waist and helps me on the journey to the door. He unlocks and opens it, pulling the wheelchair in the room. After situating the chair behind me, he assists me in sitting in the wheel chair. Once situated, Matt wheels me into the hallway, neither of us knowing what our next move will be and how everything will pan out.