“Let’s go inside,” I suggested. “I can make you some food if you’d like.”
Food always made things better.
She nodded and quietly followed me up to my apartment.
As I led her through my home, she looked around as if she was taking everything in for the first time.
I didn’t know why, but her scrutinizing gaze caused a nervous flutter in my stomach. I wanted her to like my home. I wanted her to feel comfortable here.
She approached the black fabric sectional, which was topped with a throw blanket, just past the entryway and shuffled across the light brown hardwood floors. She glanced around the rest of my living room.
I looked around as well just to confirm the place wasn’t a mess.
The round glass coffee table was clear, except for some coasters and an empty coffee mug from the other morning.
The flat-screen TV and entertainment system across from the table could have used a good dusting, especially the shelves along the far wall that held a few books, pictures, and the vinyl disks for my hand-me-down record player in the corner of the room.
Katherine reached out and touched the closest leaf of the potted monstera plant next to her. One of many Leah had gifted me. She had claimed they tied the whole room together. I couldn’t disagree with my sister. The houseplants made my minimal apartment feel more homey.
I was proud of the home I’d made for myself. So why was Katherine’s approval so important?
Once Katherine had her fill of the space, I led her past the door to my bedroom and into the dining area connected to the kitchen.
“Is a grilled cheese okay?” I asked over my shoulder.
Katherine hummed her reply, and I got to work.
As I gathered and readied everything I needed for a grilled cheese, I heard the scrape of the wooden bar stool against the tiled floors behind me. When I turned to put something back in the fridge, I saw her place the bag of ice the hospital had given her onto the white-marbled kitchen counter.
The sound of sizzling butter was almost deafening in the stretch of silence between us.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I’d let her have time to process, but it was time for some more answers.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it,” I said down at the frying pan as I flipped her sandwich, revealing a perfectly golden toasted edge, “but I can’t see you with a guy like Adrian. I know what his kind is like. How could someone likeyoube with someone likehim?”
She sighed as if expecting the question but was reluctant to answer it.
I just wanted to understand. And I thought I deserved some answers from her, too.
“We met through mutual friends,” Katherine said. “My parents didn’t have much to their name, and I grew up in a bad part of town. After my mom passed, I made friends with a bad crowd. Adrian was one of them. He was the leader. He called all the shots. I hadn’t started dating him until about a year after I graduated, since he was a couple of years older. Looking back, I think we only got together because it was expected and there was little that Adrian wanted that he didn’t get.”
I used the spatula to flip the grilled cheese again and then put it on a plate before serving it to her. I remained silent, encouraging her to continue.
“He was nice at first, but over the next few months, he changed,” she explained. “I think that was when he joined the Phantoms. Gang activity was pretty common in our area, and I learned later that a few of his cousins were members. After he joined, he became distant and ill-tempered. A few months before “the incident,” I noticed how easily angered he was. I thought of breaking it off then, but every time I tried to confront him, he’d apologize and say he was going to change. I felt trapped. I didn’t know what to do.”
I pursed my lips and tightened my fist around the handle of the frying pan. “Did he ever direct his anger toward you?”
I tried to contain my rage at even having to ask her that question. The thought of Adrian putting his hands on her enraged me.
Only pathetic cowards directed their anger onto women. Adrian seemed like the type.
“No.” Katherine shook her head and stared down at the grilled cheese in front of her. “Not physically.”
I clenched my jaw at her word choice, turned off thestove, and faced her with a hard look. “Physical or not, it’s still abuse.”
“It wasn’t like that,” she explained. “Adrian never hit me, but he wasn’t particularly gentle either. When he threatened me the night of the incident, he was completely transparent about what he’d do to me. He’d do whatever he had to in order to protect himself. That’s why I ran.” She shrugged as if the details didn’t matter. “It seemed like the best option, considering I didn’t have any close friends or family besides Pearl, who Adrian didn’t know about.”
My gaze softened at hearing that. I owed everything to the woman who helped Katherine and ultimately led her to me. “Why didn’t Pearl come with you?”
