Chapter 3

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Ethan started to shake me.

“Come on Bri, we are here.” I could hear the sympathy in his voice. He really didn’t want to bring me out but he had to. I slowly unbuckled my seat belt and got out of the car. I closed the door and just stood there, looking at the store. People were staring at me but I gave them no mind. Ethan quickly came to my side and led me into the store. “Bri I know you are scared, but I won’t let anything happen to you. I hope you know that.”

I looked at him and nodded. He just sighed and continued to pull me ahead so that we could go home faster. We took a cart from the cart house outside of the store. We then went and entered the cool store. The burst of air hits you like bricks. It makes your nose cold and your throat goes dry. I shivered and walked closer to Ethan, trying to find some warmth.

I looked to my left and saw shelves of canned goods. On my right, I see a family who is picking out what cake mixes to buy. Once the automatic doors opened the family all looked at us. I envy them. They seem to have it all but I should never judge a book by its cover. I mean when my dad started to abuse me, no one knew.

They gave us a sympathetic smile and turned around. That’s the thing, ever since our story came out about our life, everyone always looks at us with sympathy and like we were a glass that could break at any moment. Ethan isn’t glass but I don’t know if I can say the same for myself. Ethan grabbed a cart and walked up and down the aisles with me hot on his tail. He was tossing food and things we needed into the cart, avoiding as many people as we could.

Right when we were turning down aisle 8, I saw my childhood crush. The boy who made my world stop, the boy that I loved for 5 years, Luke. Luke was the average hot guy. He was around 6”1, with beautiful light brown hair that was styled up in the front. He had a nose ring and striking green eyes that you could get lost in if you stared into them.

He was a very fit 16-year-old. He has a six-pack, an extremely contagious smile. His perfect white, straight teeth make you melt. I was going to walk away before he saw me but I was too late. He looked up and smiled at me. It wasn’t a sympathetic smile, it was a friendly smile. He then came toward me.

My heartbeat sped up again and my hands became sweaty. I discreetly wiped my hands on my legs and tried to smile back. Once he reached me I felt like Jello.

“Hey Bri, how are you?” Oh, let me think, I was kidnapped, beaten, touched, starved, and scarred for life. I’m just peachy. I wanted to say all of it but I bit my tongue, one of the many things I learned to do when he kidnapped me.

“I’m okay.” He brought his hand up to his neck and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Oh, um, well I was wondering if you were okay.” There we go, the question. This is the question I get every day. I mean nobody is really ever okay. I feel okay is more of self-reinsurance, yet I use it too. It helps get you out of conversations you don’t want to be in.

“I’m okay.” I looked down and shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Oh, that’s good.” He laughed nervously and we just stood there. He then started to walk towards me at a fast pace. My heartbeat picked up and a flashback started.

“Please stop! I beg you please give me mercy.” He just chuckled and came toward me with fast feet. My heart was in my ears and beating very fast. He stopped inches from my face.

“You will never get my mercy. You will be trapped here forever.” He chuckled darkly as tears made their way down my face like a stream. He raised his hand and it came into contact with the side of my face. I bit my lip to hold in the whimper I wanted to release but I knew he would hurt me more if he heard any sounds from me. Punch after punch, kick after kick, he delivered and made me want to stop fighting even more.

I was snapped out of my daydream by my body being shaken. Luke’s eyes came into view and I started to shake on my own.