***COMPLETED*** Around the World and Back [A Patty Walters Story]

Chapter 15, Part 1: "We'll be right there."

TRIGGER WARNING: Depictions of abuse.

July 8, 2018

Houston, Texas

"Good morning!" I greeted Josh as he walked through the door. "How was work?"

A few days a week, Josh worked the night shift at his job because he was filling in while they searched for a new overnight manager. Sometimes, he hated it.

He grumbled, walking past me and completely ignoring what I said as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Where's breakfast, Avery?" He asked in a demanding tone. "You knew I'd be home at 7:30."

I stood by the fridge, watching him look at the empty stove as I tried to formulate a response.

"I know, but I th-"

"Thought what?!" He asked as he raised his voice, walking near me. "I told you to fucking have it ready," he said as he shoved me.

I stumbled backward, backing up as he kept walking towards me.

"I thought I would wait for you to get home so we could eat together," I said as my voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Josh!"

I screamed as he pinned me against the wall, backhanding me.

"Next time you'll fucking learn to have it ready, you slut," he spit in my face as he let go of my shirt, walking off down the hallway. "God, you're so fucking useless," he muttered as he walked off down the hallway.

My face stung, but I was too scared to move away from the wall in fear that he would come back. I was too scared to cry, so I stood there, shaking like a scared puppy.

Xoxox

"Avery?" Patty said gently as he shook my shoulder. "Avery, wake up, it's okay," he said as he shook me again.

I screamed when I opened my eyes, pushing him away and moving back against the wall of the bunk as my heart pounded.

"Jesus," I muttered as I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry, I...I had a...a bad dream, or a flashback ... because what happened in my dream actually happened in real life."

Patty climbed into his bunk again and shut the curtain. He pulled me into his arms and wrapped them around me tightly. As soon as he did, I started to cry into his chest.

"Hey," he muttered in my ear, rubbing my back. "Shh, it's okay, I'm here. Nobody's gonna hurt you ever again," he whispered, kissing my forehead. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I sniffled as I kept my head on his chest, the faint sound of his heartbeat calming me down.

"I uh, I had a dream that I remember so well," I explained as he played with my hair, running his fingers through it. "Josh had come home from working the night shift and got angry that I didn't have breakfast ready," I said as my breath hitched in my throat.

I buried my head in his chest and started to cry again, unable to finish my sentence. Patty was patient with me. He rubbed my back again, placing soft kisses to my forehead as my cries stopped again.

"S-sorry," I stuttered as I wiped my nose on my hand. "I'm trying to finish."

"Take your time, baby," he hummed softly as he continued playing with my hair. "Take as much time as you need."

I took a deep breath, balling up his shirt in my hand as I picked up where I left off.

"He got angry that I didn't have breakfast ready," I said again after I calmed down, rubbing the fabric of Patty's shirt between my fingers. "And... he pinned me against the wall and backhanded me. And called me a slut," I said as I felt him tense up underneath me. "And I was so scared to move ... that I didn't cry, I just stayed there."