The next morning I was woken up by someone squirming like they were panicking. I opened my eyes and Victoria was clutching my shirt tightly while moving. I don't even think she realizes. I tightened my hold on her and she took a deep breath calming down. I had assumed my scent and feel had calmed her down back to a peaceful sleep. Looking over at the clock I read it as 1:15 am. Wow it's early. I better sleep again since I have a fight later today. I closed my eyes and fell back asleep seconds later. Later I felt a warmth on both my cheeks before one left and I felt it on the back of my neck instead. I knew it morning at this point because I could see the light through my eye lids. Slowly I opened my eyes and saw Victoria looking at my collarbone trying to hold back tears. I moved my arms from her back and moved her up my body so her face was in my neck and she was holding me tightly starting to cry. I only held her tighter and ran a hand through her hair letting her get it out. "It's okay I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. We're safe Vic." I had tried to piece together what her nightmare was about and I figured some of it was about her being hurt and some how I was in it. After a little while she had stopped crying and would sniffle every once in a while. "Better?" I asked and she pulled her face out of my neck noticing my cheek. Her eyes widened and were red and puffy and her nose was red along with tear streaks going down her cheeks. Victoria reached to touch my cheek lightly and frowned looking angry. Frowning I sat up and told her to hold on so she locked her legs around my waist with her arms around my neck and head on my shoulder. Standing up I took her to her bathroom and sat her down on the small counter top. "Let me clean you up." She let go and I grabbed some toilet paper for her to blow her nose while I found a small towel and soaked it with warm water.
She threw away the toilet paper when she was done and looked down at the floor. Putting my hand under her chin I made her look at me and I could see the sadness and fear in her eyes. This dream was worse then I thought. I started to clean her face and I could tell she was zoned out thinking about it. When I finished I laid the towel in the sink and held her face with my hands, "You want to tell me what happened last night?" I took my hands off and Victoria lifted her hand and ran it across the bruise on my cheek, "I did that, oh God I hurt you." I immediately took her hand off my face not bothered by the subject change and shook my head, "It's not your fault." She shook her head and looked at the floor, "I hurt you, just get away. Leave Faith!" She shoved me away and started to cry again. I simply walked back to her and wrapped my arms around her while her hands were covering her face, "You can't push me away Victoria I don't leave people I love hurting." Victoria only cried harder and wrapped her arms around me soaking my shirt again. Moving her to the edge of the counter I lifted her from the bottom of her thighs and walked us back over to her bed while she continued to cry. While straddling me I could hear her mumbling something into my chest. "What?" I pushed her back enough so her face wasn't in my shirt and I could hear her clearly. "I was b-back at that h-house with y-your parents. They w-were beating m-me again while you where chained t-to a chair in f-front of me. They had a k-knife and s-stabbed y-you." She looked up at me and continued, "You d-died in f-front of m-me. I couldn't d-do anything about I-it." More graphic then I thought. I pulled her back into me rubbing her back saying, "Everything is fine, my parents are gone, you are never going to see that house again, you are safe we both are." Victoria took a couple hours to completely calm back down but I was with her every step of the way. "I'm sorry." Confused I pushed her so I could see her face, "About what?" Victoria wouldn't meet my eyes and played with my fingers in our lap. "For today, the whole break down, for making you panic, everything Faith!" She raised her voice getting angry at herself. Shaking my head I grabbed both her hands and said, "What did I tell you in the bathroom earlier today."
Victoria didn't answer at first but mumbled out, "You don't leave the people you love hurting." I nodded and let go of her hands to lift her face, "Exactly now come on let's order something to eat and watch your favorite movie." I kissed her forehead and put my arms under her thighs picking her up after she wrapped her arms and legs around me. On the way out I grabbed my phone and asked her, "What do you want to eat?" She ran a hand through my hair and said, "Sushi?" Dialing the sushi place I walked over to the couch and sat her down while putting the phone to my ear, "Set up your movie while I order everything." She nodded and I left to the kitchen for the call. After I ordered I called Marcus because I needed some advice.
"Hey Faith what's going on?"
"Hey Mar I need help with something. Victoria had a nightmare about her kidnapping and has been crying all day."
"Is she okay now?"
"She stopped crying for now and I just ordered sushi and told her to put on her favorite movie but all I can think about now is the fight tonight. The closer the time gets the more I think about it and I don't know if I am comfortable leaving her here. And as selfish as this sounds, I don't want to miss it. I don't know what to do."
I looked around the corner and saw Victoria watching the starting scenes of Back To The Future the first movie.
"Look I know how much you love Victoria and how much you love boxing. You said she has been crying all day so she is probably emotionally and physically tired which means in the span of the 2 hours you have before the fight is when you can make your decision. She will probably fall asleep and then it's up to you if you still want to come. If anything you can bring her with you."
"She's not coming to this one. We talked about it already."
"Okay well just let me know with enough time before the fight. Good luck. Bye."
I hung up and sighed running a hand through my hair. I could call Jonathan to watch her while I'm gone? I don't want to bother him. Ignoring the problem for now I walked to the livingroom and sat down next to Victoria. She quickly cuddled into my side and I put my left arm over her shoulders. "I don't know if you remember but I have my fight in 2 hours. But I don't want to leave you. I also don't want to miss the fight." Saying the last sentence quietly feeling horrible. Victoria sat up and turned my head so I looked at her, "I will be okay Faith. Don't feel so bad about leaving to do something you love. You have been taking take of me for years I will be okay tonight. Don't miss the fight." Concern was in my eyes and she shook her head, "Go to the fight I will be okay." I grabbed her hands and asked, "Are you sure?" She nodded and cuddled me again for a couple minutes before the doorbell rings saying food's here. We both got up and grabbed the 2 bags we got and paid walking back to the couch. After an hour Victoria fell asleep so I had moved her trash to the coffee table and went to pick her up bridal style. She groaned but stayed limp in my arms making me hold a laugh. I took her to my room and placed her under the covers. Grabbing my outfit I started to get ready for the fight in my bathroom and texted Marcus that I was still going.
