Broken Submission

The Hospital

So sorry that I forgot to post yesterday!! Here you guys go--barely an hour past the deadline.

"Hey sweetheart," he breathed, relief flooding through him at the feeling of having her in his arms.

She shuddered. And then, all at once, she began to cry. He sat beside her and tugged her into his arms so that she was plastered to his body, his arms right around her.

"It's alright," he murmured. "It's going to be alright. You're safe now."

She sobbed into his chest. Eventually, her cries died down into the occasional hiccup, but not before his shirt was soaked through with tears and snot. He didn't give a single shit.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, voice hoarse.

He squeezed her tightly. "Why don't you go blow your nose and then we can talk about it, okay?"

She nodded and stumbled to the bathroom. She blew her nose wetly several times before she turned on the water and splashed her face with it. How had things gone so horribly wrong? She'd started to build her new life, getting everything in line, and then Garret... her body chilled, just thinking about his name. She was lucky he'd done so little. Of course, Derek bursting through her door had played a huge role in that.

Derek. She groaned. What was she going to do on that front? He'd just saved her from her worst nightmare after apparently tracking her down, despite her leaving him without so much as a goodbye. He'd been nothing but comforting. But she knew that he would demand answers soon. And if she desired any kind of relationship with him, she'd have to give them.

She dried her face and stepped out of the bathroom. Derek watched her and patted the spot next to him on the bed. She sat.

"I was young when I married Garret." She forced the words out before she could lose her nerve. "He was smart and kind and successful. When we were dating, he showed me a dominant personality although he wasn't really into kink. I wasn't either at the time. We got married, and things changed.

"What had started as protective became controlling. My life outside the house and work became non-existent. I wasn't allowed to keep the money I made. If the house wasn't kept perfectly or if I made spaghetti when he wanted steak," her voice wobbled, "I was punished. He started staying out for drinks every night with coworkers and would rub the attention of other women in my face. If he wanted sex and I didn't, he would force himself on me. When I got pregnant, he was so happy. But I wanted more for my child. So, I left him." She dug her nails into her palms.

"I should have stayed—I should have stuck it out. Because when he found me, he beat me so badly that I miscarried. He said it was my fault. I had tried to steal his child, and he'd been forced to punish me. The months after that are a blur. But one day, like I was acting on autopilot, I just got in an Uber. And I left. I took what money I could find and a few pieces of clothing, and I ran. And I've been running ever since."

An arm wrapped against her shoulders. "Thank you for telling me," Derek said.

"Can we go home?" she whispered, unable to help the pitiful question.

Derek tensed. He pulled back so that he could face her. She looked up into Derek's face and saw his restrained anger.

"Yes." He looked deep into her eyes. "But if we do this, if we go down this road, then you will have to accept how fucking pissed I am that you put us in this position." He paused taking a deep breath. "I understand that we haven't known each other long, and I wouldn't demand you share your past with me. But you knew that you were in danger. You put yourself in danger. And that, I do take issue with."