"Uh...Alisha is not doing well.She's having a panic attack."
"What?"My instinct kicks in."I'm on my way.I'll be there ASAP."
I end the call and turn to Samantha."I need to go.Alisha needs my help.Is it okay if I leave you here?"
She giggles."Cole, I'm fifteen, not a baby.I'll be fine.Go, I'll see you after school."
With an urgency I've never experienced before, I grab my keys and rush out to my car.As I drive out of the apartment building, my attention drifts to a fierce blonde.What the hell happened?Two days ago, I told her I arranged private self-defense classes for her.At first, I wanted to do it myself, but since I experience specific reactions when I'm near her, I asked Tommy.
With an unsettled mind, I rush to the gym, and once inside, I make my way over to Tommy, who uncrosses his legs and takes an active stand.
"Where is she?"
"She's alone in the private room.I've made sure no one goes in there."
I narrow my eyes."What the hell happened?"
"Elli came in with an envelope that had her name written on it.The moment she opened it, she freaked out.I tried to calm her, but when I touched her, she launched her nails at me, and screamed, 'Don't touch me.'Man, the woman is hot, but one broken mess."
My nostrils flare at his insensitive words.To regain my calmness, I take a deep inhale through my nose while flexing my neck muscles."Okay, you're dismissed from training her."
When he sees my furious expression, he nods and walks off.I make my way to the end of the hallway, and when I arrive at the door, my hand lingers on the handle.For a moment I listen, and when I hear nothing, I enter.
Inside I find her standing in the middle of the gym room with her shoulders and head hung down.Her chest rises and falls in rapid, shallow breaths, each one looking more painful than the last.A piece of paper lies at her feet, and her laboring breath tells me her emotions are sky high.Not wanting to scare her more, I say her name while approaching her with caution.
"Alisha?"I stop when I'm two feet away from her, noticing her body is mimicking a statue.Every muscle in her frame is rigid, like she's trying to hold herself together through sheer will."Talk to me."
Instead of repeating myself, I wait.Moments pass, but then her lips move.Her voice trembles with desperation, raw and broken.
"I want him to leave me alone.Why can't it stop?"
Her head lifts, and my breath hitches as her gaze meets mine.Suffering, loneliness, despair, fear.Those and many more deep-seated emotions whirl around in her depths like a storm trying to tear her apart.I grab the note from the floor, and as I read the text, my blood runs cold.
I miss you, Alisha Alexandra McQueen.See you soon, doll face.
My eyes fly back to hers, and my heart aches to see her struggling and fighting with this demon.I take another step towards her.
"Go away!"Her voice cracks like breaking glass.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She steps forward, presses her palms against my chest as she tries to push me back.Her hands are trembling, ice-cold against my shirt."Are you deaf?Leave!"Her voice is an octave higher as she continues to scream at me."I don't want you here."Her hands turn into fists, and as she turns her back toward me, her head drops."I can handle this alone."
Sweat beads on her forehead, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.The strong, vibrant woman I know is fighting to stay in control, but I can see her slipping.
"Alisha, it's okay if—"
She spins on her feet, lifts her chin high, and with irises on fire, she stares straight into my eyes while pushing her finger into my pecs."Don't you say it's okay to cry.Everyone keeps saying that goddamn shit," she exclaims, now pressing her full hand against my rib cage with greater force.Her whole body trembles with the effort to hold back tears."But I will not cry."
I hold my breath as I gaze into her green seas.All the beauty of the universe can't compete with this simple thing I perceive: determination.It transforms her eyes into orbs of the brightest fire, and in them, I read she will fight this to the very last tear she's holding.God, I admire her strength and bravery.I know how it feels to battle them, so I promise myself I'll do everything to help her beat this demon.
"You will be okay."I keep my voice steady, an anchor in her storm.
"How can you say that?"Her words come out in a rush, like they've been waiting to escape."After months, my fucking mind still can't forget, Cole.The moment I close my eyes, he's back, staring at me with his malicious gaze."Her voice breaks, but she pushes on."The bastard loved every second of what he did to me.He enjoyed seeing my pain and fear.And now," she says, pointing to the letter, her hand shaking violently, "he's out there watching me, and it's scaring the shit out of me."
She steps forward, and to my surprise, she rests her forehead gently against my chest.A whirlwind of emotions overtakes me.I want to wrap her in my embrace, but knowing that might trigger her anxiety, I lower my head and whisper, "What can I do to help you?"
After she swallows, she whispers, while digging her fingers into my shirt, "Teach me how to fight.Please.I need to be sure I can beat him next time."
