Project Living (girlxgirl)

Four

   Savannah eyes me. She's clearly shaken up, though I don't understand why.

I frown and avert my eyes back to the road, "Hey, are you okay?"

Her gaze falls to her lap and she nods, "Y-yeah. I'm okay."

I know now what I saw in her eyes back at the coffee shop.. fear. She was scared.

"Are you sure? You don't look okay.. how do you know him?" I look down at her lap to see that her hands are shaking.

I turn my attention back to the road. Where are we even going?

"He's my boyfriend... ex-boyfriend, actually." She seems to be calming down.

"That's it?" I know I shouldn't be prying, but isn't it necessary for me to know? Wasn't I just brought into the situation?

"No, I guess not. I don't mind talking about it, actually. It's safer for you to know," She trails off.

I furrow my brow, "Safer?"

She nods. "Can we pull over?"

"Yeah, I'm going to need some gas soon anyway." I realize there's a park nearby.

Once we pull in I turn off the engine and unfasten my seatbelt. She does the same and we sit in silence before she begins, "He was abusive. He is abusive, I should say. His parents both died when he was young. He isn't what you would call.. normal," I nod, silently agreeing, "I don't know why or how I fell in love with him, but I did. He was nice and gentle in the beginning... it's like as soon as he knew I wouldn't leave he allowed me to see who he truly was. He got very jealous over small things. After about four months of dating, he started getting more and more abusive. Mentally and physically. He'd tell me I couldn't live without him and that if I ever did leave him he'd..." A single tear rolls down her cheek.

  I grab her hand and squeeze it, not wanting to speak. She looks at me and I give her a reassuring nod before she continues, "He said he'd kill me and whoever I left him for. I stayed with him for so long. Every time he'd hit me or tell me how worthless I was I just told myself he was damaged.. and that it was the only way he knew how to love me," she lets go of my hand and looks out the window, gazing at two children playing tag in the grass, "After a few more months I packed all my things and left in the middle of the night. I got a new apartment and thought I could run away from him... just like that."

"But the school year came around and he was in your class or classes?" She nods at my words letting more tears spill down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry for bringing you into this," she wipes at her tears, "I'm so so sorry."

I shake my head, "You didn't do anything, Savannah. None of this is your fault. Why don't we go to the police station right now? We can repor-"

She shakes her head violently, "No! No, I can't do that."

I stare at her in disbelief, "What do you mean? Of course, you can!"

She looks me in the eye, "No, I can't. I won't. And neither will you."

"Are you kidding me? Savannah, you can't let him get away with this." I gaze into her eyes and see there is no convincing her.

"No, I only told you because he approached you and you deserved to know after what happened. I loved him. I can't do something like that to someone I loved." She returns her gaze to the children outside.

I sigh, "Loved? You don't love him anymore?" I truly am going too far, but there's no stopping me at this point.

"Yes, loved. I realize now that he is incapable of feeling what I felt towards him. I care for him, but I know he's not safe for me to be around. I'm smart enough to not let my emotions get in the way of my safety."