It couldn't have been any later than 4:45 in the morning. The pitch-black sky began to open up into an eerie haze as if it knew how to set the background for her. She looked down at her filthy, worn-down Converse sneakers, seeing the navy blue canvas tinged with blood. She had been walking since midnight, getting as far away as she could from the apartment. She didn't think it would come to this.
As she continued to walk through the city, she saw a new day beginning for its citizens. Early shifts started to open up shop, commuters began to head out for their long rides, and the sun started to pop out of the sky. She was tired, hungry, and desperate for a place to sit down, but she knew she couldn't. She looked down to check her feet and saw a five-dollar bill in front of her. She took the money and kept walking, believing it was a sign that she deserved a place to stop at. Spotting a Dunkin' Donuts beginning to open up shop, she headed inside, hoping to use their restroom and order something to eat for her empty stomach. The worker smiled at her like she was just a regular customer.
"I'm going to order something, but may I use your restroom?" she asked politely.
"Of course, hon! Would you like to order now, so it is ready when you come out?" the woman was undoubtedly a morning person. A smile graced her face as if she had been up for hours.
"Um, sure, thank you. May I please have a cheese bagel toasted with cream cheese, and a large cup of water?"
"Absolutely! That will be four dollars and thirty-two cents!"
She handed over the grimey five-dollar bill and received her change, thanking the kind cashier and heading to the restroom.
She turned on the lights and stared at the person looking back at her in the mirror. This person was not her. She tried to reassure herself that everything would be alright, but she remained terrified. It was self-defense. She was going to be killed or worse if she didn't do anything, right? She sobbed as she finally had time to take in the events of the night before. Realizing that it would be suspicious if she were in the bathroom any longer, she finished her business and splashed cold water on her face to calm herself down.
"Here you go, sweetheart! One cheese bagel toasted with cream cheese and... are you alright?" she asked in a genuinely concerned voice. "I'm not going to tell anyone anything, but I can tell you have just dealt with some serious shit, and you need to let it out. No one comes in here until about 6:15 anyways; I can sit down and chat with you."
She nodded to the woman, trusting her in what she was about to share.
"There was this guy that I met at a bar about six months ago. He talked my ear off that night. He was funny, charming, and pretty easy on the eyes. He wasn't the most attractive guy, but he was cute; tall, muscular build, brown hair, brown eyes, well dressed. We exchanged numbers and kept talking for about a month, and he asked me out on a formal date. Everything was going well, we had gone on a few dates here and there, but nothing serious. Skip to about three months ago, and he began getting very controlling. Telling me that I can't post pictures of my girlfriends and I because he's not in them, telling me I can't wear certain outfits because I looked like a whore, and the worst was that he was trying to pressure me into having sex with him. Things like this went on for about a month and a half, but then he went right back to the charming guy I first met. It was a toxic relationship, I know, which is why I'm here right now. He went back and forth like this, and I couldn't deal with it. Then last night, he comes pounding on my door like a madman, screaming at me to open up. The first thing I saw when I opened that door was the rope in his hands. I knew exactly what that meant. He was going to tie me up if I resisted him. I knew then that I was going to be raped or worse that night. Then I looked to the pocket of his pants and saw the silhouette of a knife. If I fought him, it would not end well for me. What I thought was going to be a bad night was about to get even worse" she sighed painfully, then continued.
