Inciting Incident (Harry Styles)

Chapter 16

She captures her reflection then she throws the mirror to the floor
Her image is distorted screaming, "Is it worth it anymore?"

***

My throat feels dryer than the Sahara Desert when I wake up off of the sofa. The hole in my chest just seems to get worst as the minute's pass by. My whole body aches in exhaustion and pain as I roll off the sofa to get myself some water. A knock on the door startles me and I automatically throw myself against the wall, wincing as I do so due to the tenderness of my body as I feel my heart rate accelerate.

What if it's Callum?

The thought makes me shiver as I stay perfectly still. I hear the letterbox flip up as something is posted through.

It's just the postman Jordan. Breathe in and out, in and out.

I've never felt unsafe in my own home but right now I am so on edge and I've never felt more unsafe in my life. I've never been afraid to be alone, in fact, I usually relish in the fact I can be happy in my own company but right now, being alone seems like the last thing I ever want. I wasn't just alone, I was completely irrevocably lonely.

After I am 1000% sure the coast is clear I tip-toe back into the living room to fetch my phone that has been abandoned on the coffee table. It was now 11 am and I was desperate to talk to someone so I finally dialed Gemmas number once again and wait for it to ring.

Once again it cut off before it even had two dial tones and before I knew it I was clicking again and again until a very familiar voice answered.

"Why are you still ringing Gemma?" Harry's hoarse voice came through the receiver. "You're lucky I haven't told her y-"

"Harry, please just let me speak to Gemma." I asked urgently, as my voice wobbled again. "Please." I begged, trying to keep my breathing under control.

"Why?" He bluntly responded as I squeeze my eyes shut. I was silently praying that he would just not question anything any further and just pass the phone to Gemma. It's not like I'm ringing him.

I hear him sigh in annoyance but thankfully shuffling on the other end signals he has actually listened to me for once. Before Gemma can utter a full word I am already in full-on sobs I don't know what's more painful, these physical marks, or trying to say what he did.

"C-Callum came home drunk last night after seeing a picture of me and Harry outside Mojos. H-He went mental and-" I started but I literally lost it. I broke down wholeheartedly, now not being able to get a word out..

"Jordan?" She questions clearly half-asleep "Sorry I fell asleep on the sofa. You kn-" Gemma started speaking but my overwhelming cries obviously break her from her tiredness. "Whoa! What's wrong?" She asked more awake, I can imagine her sitting up from her position

My breathing is completely rugged as I let the sobs develop me.

"Let me just go into the other room," She says calmly I hear Harry say something in the background but all I am focused on right now is that Gemma is here on the phone and I needed to talk to her.

"I'm so scared Gemma," I hiccuped, "He was so mean, so.. evil. My mum doesn't even believe me." I cried, I don't even know if Gemma can understand a word I'm saying at this point.

"What doesn't she believe?" She questions. Her calm voice was soothing me slightly but then trying to tell her what happened has me breaking down all over again.

"I didn't do anything I promise." Was the only thing I could muster through tears and sobs as she shushes me delicately, as If I'm a child that's crying and won't stop.