Thank fuck. I’m marginally relieved, and the officer is certainly impressed. So am I. Good girl.
“The man didn’t give up easily, though. He slammed her into the ground, slapped her around, punched her, and tore her clothes.”
Please tell me that’s all he managed to do.
Suddenly, Simone turns her head to look at me as if she just now realizes I’m in the room. “Professor Arnalt?”
I’m afraid to risk hurting her, so I stroke her hair again instead of touching anywhere else.
The officer steps to the side and adjusts the chair so it’s closer to me. “Sit. I’ll give you a few minutes.”
I lower to the seat, trying not to react to the swelling and bruising on my girl’s face. “I’m here, Baby girl.” I move my hand to her shoulder, touching her carefully. I’m well aware I have never taken the liberty to use any endearments with her before. I couldn’t have. But now I can.
Tears run down her cheeks. New ones. There are dried streaks on her face. This isn’t the first time she’s cried since getting here.
I want to lift her into my arms and hold her, but I can’t for several reasons. Most importantly, I don’t have permission to do any such thing with Simone. We’ve never crossed that line before. I’ve never stroked her hair or her shoulder before tonight. The only times we’ve touched in the four years I’ve known her were our fingers grazing as we handed one another a piece of paper during class or in my office.
“I guess Mr. Hoffman called you,” she mutters. “I’m sorry he had to bother you.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Little one.” What I’d like to do is rewind the clock to any day prior to today and actually call her, establishing a connection between us that would have meant she wouldn’t have been alone at night walking from her car to her apartment.
“The officer said you were very brave,” I offer.
She swallows, looking away.
Is there more I don’t know?
“He came out of nowhere. I didn’t see him. I should have had my pepper spray in my hand. Mr. Hoffman is going to kill me. He always tells us not to walk anywhere without pepper spray at the ready.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. You got away without it.”
She meets my gaze again. “He was so big. I’m sure he underestimated me. I wasn’t about to let him take me. He kept trying to cover my mouth. He lifted me off the ground and dragged me. He meant to abduct me, but I kneed him hard in the balls, and then he tackled me to the ground and started punching me.”
“You did the right thing when you scratched his face, Simone. The police will be able to use his DNA to identify him.”
“Fucker,” she whispers.
I agree. Can’t fault her for cussing right about now. That’s a mild word to describe any man who attacks women.
“So someone heard you screaming and came to help?”
She shakes her head. “No. I mean some people probably heard me, but that’s not what stopped him. There are so many noises near campus, and it was hard to be loud enough for long enough for anyone to notice. Even after I kneed him and scratched his face, he continued hurting me. The fucking asshole was determined. He yanked at my clothes and started groping me as if he was going to rape me right on the sidewalk outside my building. I thought he would until bright headlights from another car pulling into the lot shined on us. That’s when he jumped off me and ran away.”
Thank fuck.
I slide my hand to her hip. “Are you hurt anywhere else, Simone?”
She shakes her head, wincing as she does so. “Just scrapes and bruises. And my pride.”
Her face is swelling more as we speak. One of her eyes is almost closed. She’s going to be very sore tomorrow and for several days after that. I pick up the ice and hold it carefully against her eye.
The nurse and officer both return almost simultaneously.
The officer speaks first. “Is it okay if I ask you a few more questions, Simone?”
She draws in a deep breath. “Yeah.”
I rise to my feet.
