The officer finally looks up at me as I drop my shirt hiding the evidence of the last few days with Jason. “She’s absolutely correct. He’s going to be taken in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office where he will be booked on no bond until he sees a judge tomorrow morning. We will need you to accompany us down to the sheriff’s office for questioning so we can get your statement,” he says, with a little more compassion in his voice. I’m guessing he knows that I can’t fake the bruises.
I just nod and he moves a little out of the way to let me and the girl who helped me go first. Before moving I turn to her. “Thank you for helping me. I never got your name,” I say as we begin to walk slowly.
She looks up at me with a smile as she answers, “My name is Heather. And of course, you’re very welcome.”
I nod at her and we both step forward with Officer Bailey on our heels. As we move closer to the exit of the bathroom, I can hear the commotion. I hesitate before we exit and Officer Bailey steps forward blocking the area, directing us to the side of the exit away from where they have Jason up against the wall.
My eyes immediately go downcast as I step out of the bathroom, with Heather’s arm around my back guiding me. She so much younger than me but I can tell she has so much compassion and the want to help. I wish there was something I could do for her.
“Fucking let me go. I didn’t do anything,” I hear Jason yell while two other officers are trying to wrangle him to get him detained. “I’m just waiting on my…” His head turns and his sentence drops as he sees me walking out of the bathroom.
“Lexi,” he shouts. “Lexi, tell them they have the wrong guy,” he yells, his face pinched in anger at the cops, but a bit of hopefulness at seeing me. I stop and turn to face him.
“Come on. You don’t need to do this right now,” Heather says to me trying to guide me away from everything. The cops stop struggling waiting to see what I will say.
I take a step closer feeling a little more confident with them holding him. I feel a little more of my old self coming back. My eyes burn with anger and hate for what he’s done to me. How he treated me, the one person who probably would have done anything for him at one time. My life revolved around him for so long, but betrayal after betrayal can turn you into someone you don’t even want to look at in the mirror. The years with Jason made me someone I didn’t even like.
“Fuck you, Jason. You should have just stayed with Sara and left me alone. You did this to me. You did. I fucking hate you,” I spit the last words out with tears streaming down my face. All the pent up anger from over the last few years being released all at once.
“You bitch,” he seethes and I take a small step back. “You fucking whore.” My eyes widen at the venom in his voice. Even when we’ve fought before, I’ve never heard him this angry. His struggle becomes more vicious and the cops trying to restrain him try to regain a stronger hold on him.
Officer Bailey takes my bicep trying to guide me away again, with a bit more urgency. But my eyes don’t leave the struggling men. Then everything happens so quickly, yet still in slow motion. Jason lifts his foot, stepping hard on the cop’s foot, causing him to release his strong hold on him. He then headbutts the other officer. Blood bursts from his nose. The officer moves to cover his nose, squeezing his eyes shut from what I’m assuming is debilitating pain. Jason reaches down grabbing the gun from the belt on the cop’s side before anyone has even a moment to register what he’s done.
Officer Bailey is still trying to pull me away, but I’m stunned in silence and my feet are rooted to the ground unable to move away from this entire thing.
“I already told you, if I can’t have you, no one can,” he growls as he’s lifting the gun to point at me. My eyes slowly close accepting my fate, as thoughts of Shayna and Cam flit through my head. Our times together as friends and our short time together as a throuple run like a slide show through my memories. I know it's over and I’m just thankful for the time that I had with them.
Screams erupt from everywhere in the open terminal space. I can feel Heather trying to pull me away, but I can’t move. This is all my fault. If I would have just left the first time he pushed me. That time he grabbed and choked me. Or the first time he hit me sending me to the hospital, none of this would be happening. But then I wonder would I have ever had the opportunity to be with Shayna and Cam. And every little moment enjoyed with my best friends was absolutely worth it.
A loud bang is heard echoing in the open space. I flinch waiting for the searing pain. But it never comes. They say that sometimes death can be peaceful, painless even, but I still hear the shot ringing out and the muffled chattering. Is that the shot ringing or is it just my ears? The burning smell of gunpowder is potent in my nostrils and I’m afraid to open my eyes. Not wanting to face what is happening.
When I finally do, I see Jason sprawled out on the floor on his back, the gun near his outstretched hand. Blood pours from underneath him onto the gray tiled airport walkway. There’s a patch of blood spreading across his upper chest from an obvious wound. The more I watch, the wider my eyes open.
Everything that had been in slow motion, speeds up. The two cops that Jason assaulted jump into action. The cop that hasblood running down his face, kicks the gun away from Jason as the other squats down next to Jason checking his pulse.
My eyes don’t leave the growing splotch of blood on Jason’s chest. Everything around feels numb. I can’t hear anything except the blood rushing in my ears. I risk a quick glance to the side and see Officer Bailey’s outstretched arm right next to me, still pointing the gun at my ex laying motionless on the floor. Not completely motionless, because I can see the quick rise and falls of his chest.
The officer checking his vitals seems to speak, but I can’t hear anything. The blood rushing in my ears is all that I can comprehend right now. His lips are moving looking over at Officer Bailey, but I don’t hear any words. That incessant ringing is still so loud in my ears. After a few more minutes, I hear a muffled sound and a figure step in front of me.
I hesitantly look around, not at the person now standing in front of me. It seems more cops have arrived and taking control of the scene. Looking at the person next to me, I see Officer Bailey trying to get my attention. He veering me towards a set of connected chairs. The back of my knees hit the plastic and I collapse.
Feeling someone sit next to me, taking my hand, I glance over and see Heather is right next to me with tears in her eyes staring at me. The humming in my ears starts to dissipate to the point I can can somewhat hear Officer Bailey.
“You’re okay now, Lexi. You’re safe. Come on. Focus on me,” I can hear him speak.
My head whips to the side again and see they have Jason’s hands handcuffed in front of him. Not dead. Slowly my eyes make their way back to the comforting officer in front of me. Staring at me, waiting on me to come to my senses.
“Is… is he dead?” is the only think I can ask right now. I didn’t want him dead, just to leave me alone. At one point in my life I did love him, or at least I thought I did.
Officer Bailey looks over, and I follow his line of sight as the paramedics arrive and start working on him. Looking now, his face is pale. Eyes closed and I don’t see any movement. The dark blue eyes of the Officer Bailey make it back to mine at the same time. “He’s still alive but he’s in critical condition. But right now, no, he’s not dead,” he says.
“You shot him,” I say with no inflection in my voice. Just making a blank statement. He nods his head, and with that confession my head drops and tears begin to flow more now. Trying to comprehend what all just happened in such a short span of time. Raising my eyes back up to meet his, I can see the concern and pity in them. There is only one thing I can think to say this man. This man who not more than 10 minutes before probably didn’t believe me.
“Thank you for saving me,” I say to Officer Bailey, feeling the young girl sitting next to me put her arm around my shoulder trying to comfort me. He finally stands looking around at all the confusion with the bystanders, paramedics, cops and airport security. They are loading Jason onto a gurney, leaving a puddle of blood behind.
“I’ll be right back. Stay right here, Lexi. I will still need to get your information and a statement,” he says and then looks at Heather. “Are you okay to stay with her?” he asks her.
“Sure. My flight doesn’t leave for another hour,” she replies. He nods and heads over to talk with the other officers, leaving us two alone. I can feel eyes on me and hear the whispers. I can’t understand what they are saying, but I can tell by the hushed words they are about me.
