Page 38 of Perfect Strangers

An elbow meets my face, knocking me off, as my body flies to the ground. A faint dizziness fills my mind as I crash. My back screams out in pain on top of the hardwood flooring.

Before I could even begin to recoup, hands are around my neck, pulling me up and off the floor. Strong fingers wrap around each crevice, each inch, as I open my eyes, staring at my assailant.

I try to squirm and kick into him as blood oozes from a gash in his head. Tiny specks of glass scar his face as my eyes stare into the man who’s hunted me for all these years.

“You’ll pay for this.”

My mouth opens, gasping for air, as my lungs yearn for oxygen. “Please…”

In a blink of an eye, a fist glide through the air, hitting the goon from behind. He loses composure, releasing me from his grasp as I collapse onto the ground.

My eyes blink open to see Major and the goon throwing punches at one another. I scour back toward the hall and tiptoe to the kitchen, grabbing a knife to use as my weapon.

Seconds later I return to see Major send his opponent to the ground with a solid punch to the face. His chest heaves up and down as his lungs gasp for air after that strenuous fight.

He glances my way with a level of concern I’ve never seen before. “Are you alright?”

I drop the knife as he pulls me into his arms, laying a kiss on my forehead. Tears spill down my face as my body trembles, trying to calm down from my attack.

Sirens blare in the distance, growing louder as patrol cars park along the curb. Major pulls away from me as he realizes Crew is nowhere to be found. He bolts toward the bedroom, shouting his name.

I race into the hall, looking for him. “Crew?!”

“Mommy!”

Crew appears from one of the neighbor’s apartment as he runs into my arms. The elderly woman talks to the emergency operator notifying them of the attack. I glance at her as she describes the ordeal.

My mouth whispers a ‘thank you’ as I cradle Crew in my arms. Major arrives, bending down, and wraps his arms around us. The three of us hold onto each other, squeezing as the police file into the apartment building.

A paramedic immediately takes hold of me, ushering me to sit so they can examine my injuries. I leave Crew with Major

as Major tells them about the incident as they arrest the goon.

It’s hours until everyone leaves and I’m exhausted. Major locks the apartment door, securing it for the night, as I tuck Crew into bed, hoping he’s able to sleep after all this.

“Mommy, why was that man hurting you?”

I hold back tears as I kiss his cheek. “Well, because he’s a very bad man.”

“But you’re okay now, right? He’s not going to hurt you anymore?”

I let out a deep breath. “I will be. Now try to get some rest.”

I shut his bedroom door and head into the living room, noticing Major on the sofa. He pats a spot next to him so I comply. I nuzzle into him as he wraps his around me. I glance around the apartment still seeing the pieces of glass on the floor, flashing that moment before my eyes.

My body tenses as I remember that terrorizing moment and tears spill. Soft cries escape me and Major keeps hold as I let it all out.

I’ve learned to appreciate the things that I have since my near-death experience. And if it wasn’t for Major, I’m not sure I’d even be around anymore.

A month has passed and I still wake up in cold sweats. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, getting over what I experienced but at least I am not alone. Major has never left my side. He’s somehow managed to commute every day to and from the city and still be here with us in Connecticut.

As the cool nights turn warm, spring begins to bloom in the air. Trees beam under the shining sun as birds chirp and sing to each other. Flowers of all shapes and sizes blossom in fields of wonder as I see my little boy grow a new inch every day.

The news of Major’s existence shocked my parents but eventually they understood how much it meant to me for them to welcome him. Once Juliette heard that Major knew about being a father, she jumped for joy and already started planning double dates.

It’s hard to say when Major and I officially became a couple. We never really talked about it. Sometimes you just know. Every time he walks into the room, my heart flutters, skipping beats as he stares at me with those deep dark eyes of his.

And as he holds my hand as we walk along the streets of New York, I smile. I’m so lucky to have found him again.

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