Page 38 of Taking Control
“Lie with me,” I whisper, needing time to process all that he has said.
He gives me a sad smile as I shift across the bed a little, making room for him beside me, and as he settles down, his arm around me as I lay my head on his chest, I pray that I have the fight inside of me to get through this.
I pray that I can expel my demons.
I pray that I can believe Cal’s words.
And I pray that I can piece myself back together.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Reality Bites
Lucy
Did I dream Cal being here?
Did my brain play a trick on me?
Would my imagination be so cruel as to do that after what I’ve been through?
I look around the empty, clinical room that leaves me feeling cold and alone. A room where the man that I thought I loved and who loved me, tried to kill me. I will forever be left with the memory of his hands squeezing the life out of me. I will forever bear the marks of his reign of terror.
The door opens, and I cower, expecting to see Michael come hurtling towards me, but as my eyes widen and my heart threatens to give out, I see Cal, not Michael.
Cal with his soft smile and his kind eyes, holding two take-away coffee cups.
God, why couldn’t I have just told him how I felt all those years ago?
Why wasn’t I more confident that he would love me back?
Why was I so afraid of damaging our friendship by wanting more?
I let out a sigh as he closes the door and makes his way over to me.
My heart has longed for him, and now it’s too broken to accept another man’s love.
“Morning,” he says as he stops beside my bed and places the coffee cups on the table.
“Morning,” I reply quietly, wishing that he could embrace me and make all of this go away.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I say with a smile that doesn’t cover up the fact that I am a fucking mess.
“The doctor will be here to see you shortly,” Cal informs me. “And then hopefully they will let me take you home.”
Home.
Where is that?
I don’t have a home anymore. I haven’t had one for a long time.
The thought of possibly having to go back to the place that I shared with Michael has bile rising in my throat and dry heaves racking my body. Cal quickly puts his arm around the back of me, moving my hair away from my face and telling me to breath slowly.
I try to push Michael away as I listen to Cal’s words.
“Breathe, Lucy, nice and steady.”
