Page 9 of The Heart You've Borrowed

“Why would you do that for me?” I run my hands down my face.

“Because you are my best friend Charlie. Just because we haven’t been able to talk for the last two years doesn’t mean I ever stopped being your friend. Whatever you need I will be there for you. You can start fresh, get out of here and away from him. We can go buy you a new phone today and that way he can’t track you.”

“I can’t ask you to do all of that for me.” I shake my head.

“You aren’t asking me to do anything. I want to do this for you Charlie, I should have known something was wrong. I should have been there for you but instead, I backed off because I thought it was what you wanted.” He sighs.

“I never wanted that,” I say quickly.

“I know that now, but at the time I thought it was for the best that we weren’t friends. I never wanted to come between you and Jett. I thought he was good for you. He had the money, a good job, and a nice family. I thought it was what you needed. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.” This time there are tears in his eyes.

“None of this is your fault. I should have left years ago, but I guess I wasn’t strong enough. Let me get dressed and then we can head to the mall.” I try to smile but I can’t.

“I’ll be downstairs.” He kisses me on the cheek and then leaves my room.

Lio is here. I still can’t believe it. Once again he is coming to my rescue. I don’t know what I did to deserve a man like him in my life but I’m thankful for him. I’ve never lived anywhere but here but I love the idea of change. I need something different, I need to get away and start over.

***

After we come back from the mall with a new phone and a few needed items I pack what little I brought from the apartment and we get ready to head to the airport. I’m nervous to leave but I know this is what’s best for me. I need to get as far away from Jett as I possibly can. He will never stop if he gets me again. I know he will never stop until he traps me forever or until he kills me.

“Please stay in touch, Charlie.” Kelly hugs me goodbye.

“I will, I promise. Thank you for everything.” I pull away.

Lio grabs my bags and we head to the Uber waiting outside, once inside I breathe a sigh of release. Almost there, almost out of here for good.

“I think you’ll like it there, we’re still a small company but we’re growing pretty quickly and the town is small but nice. Nothing ever happens there so you will be safe.” Lio squeezes my hand.

“Thank you.” That is all I can say without crying again.

“No need to thank me, Charlie. I told you years ago that I would always help you, I never intended to break that promise.”

“I know but we haven’t talked in years and the moment I called you came running, I appreciate it more than you know. You saved my life.” I wipe away my tears as we pull up to the airport.

“Not talking to you has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I hated every minute of it. But I was doing what I thought was best. If I knew what was really happening I would have never backed off. I will never forgive myself for not seeing it sooner, I should have seen the signs sooner. I am so sorry Charlie.” He shakes his head.

“It wasn’t always like this. It really only started after he made me cut you off.” I tried to reassure him.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” I turn to face him.

“Would you have called me if Kelly didn’t?”

“I don’t know. I wanted to, every single day I wanted to call you but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to make my problems your problems.” I shook my head as we got out of the car. He comes around the back and grabs my arm.

“I understand it isn’t easy to ask for help but you should have told me. I would have gotten you out sooner. I would have reminded you that you deserve love, real love. Not that bullshit he put you through. I never thought he would turn into that kind of man and I am so sorry you ever had to go through that. But Charlie, you are my best friend. We have known each other our whole lives, I just wish you trusted me enough to tell me.” He pulled me into a hug.

“It wasn’t about not trusting you, I do. You know that I do. But I was ashamed, I was embarrassed. I didn’t know how I let it get that bad and I didn’t want anyone to know. The only reason Kelly knew was that she saw it, she saw me right after he slapped me and his handprint was still there. If she wasn’t there to see it I probably wouldn’t have told anyone honestly.”

“Why not? Would you have stayed?”

“No, I was making plans to leave but I had nowhere to go. I had no one. My mom barely knows who I am, my sister is dead, and my dad isn’t in the picture. I had nowhere to turn. I couldn’t just leave right away. I had to make a plan, it would have taken time but I was planning to leave.” I pull away.

“How are you feeling after everything? Are you ready to move and start over?”

“It hurts and I think it always will. A part of me will always love Jett for who he was but not for who he became. We were together for seven years, he was all my firsts. It’s hard to forget someone you have so much history with but I am ready to start over, I’m ready to become my best self, to be me again.”

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