Page 20 of Only You

Ana sighed and walked towards him, holding out the mug as she went. Keeping the coffee mug at arm’s length between her and him.

As she got closer, he reached out to take the steaming mug.

“Goodnight then,” Ana said, moving to make her way past him.

“Aren’t you going to stay and drink your coffee with me?” he asked. “It’s about time we got to know one another.”

“Not tonight,” Ana said, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. “It’s been a long day, and I’m exhausted.”

Ana decided it was now or never, so she went to go past him, head held high.

“It’s still early,” James said, moving, so she now found herself pressed against the wall. He, once again, blocked her exit.

“James. I’m tired. I just want to go to bed,” Ana said, as calmly as her voice would allow, a deep sense of dread sitting in her stomach.

She hoped one of their flatmates would come and rescue her, but nobody was expected back. She hadn’t been due back this early.

James raised his hand to her face, running his fingers down the side of her cheek.

Leaning in, he whispered, “I can always keep you warm.”

Ana jumped at his breath touching her ear. Her coffee slipped, and the boiling liquid soaking both James’ bare chest and tracksuit bottoms. Yelling, he threw himself backwards.

“You bitch!” he yelled, rubbing at the hot liquid on his chest, spilling his own down himself at the same time.

Ana pushed herself off the wall and out of the kitchen. Dashing across the living room, she ran down the hallway towards the sanctuary of her bedroom. Only when she got to the locked door, did she realise her bag and keys were still on the side in the kitchen. Ana leaned against the door, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps, her heart pounding violently in her chest.Think!She could hear James cursing and banging around in the kitchen. She hammered on some of the other bedroom doors. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe some of her housemates were home. If someone else was here, she could retrieve her bag. James would have to back off.

Ana’s heart sank as the doors remained closed, the flat silent. She heard James before she saw him. It was now or never. She needed to get out of there. She couldn’t lock herself in the bathroom. A screwdriver would unlock that door.

Ana ran back down the hallway. She stopped at the living room door. James faced her across the room, his body filling the kitchen doorway. Ana’s hands and body began to shake. The only thing separating them was furniture. Ana side-eyed the front door to her left. As if sensing her intention, James moved, but Ana was faster, unhindered by the cumbersome sofa that was in his path.

Ripping open the front door, she threw herself down the cluttered hallway to the stairs, pulling one of the bikes over as she went, giving herself time to get away. She heard James curse again as he tripped, but she didn’t stop. Rushing onto the street, she hailed a passing taxi who swerved towards her. She would be forever grateful that he stopped, whether it was her desperation or something else.

“Are you okay, Miss?” he asked as she yanked open the door and dived in just as James burst onto the street behind her.

“If we’re getting away from him, we should go now,” the taxi driver said, looking in the mirror as James started jogging towards them.

“Just drive, please,” she said, her breath coming in sharp bursts.

The taxi driver took off just as James reached the edge of the pavement.

“Where to?” he asked when they had reached the end of the road.

Ana thought for a moment. A shudder swept through her body, and tears pricked the backs of her eyes. She didn’t have any money or her phone. She had nowhere to go. The taxi driver remained silent as if sensing she needed a moment.

Ana shoved her hands in her pockets and slumped further in the seat, dejected. It was then her hand touched a square of paper in her pocket. Fishing it out, she stared at the piece of paper Robin had given her earlier. Ana’s heard beat wildly in her chest as she unfolded it.

“Where to?” The driver asked again.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Do you have a phone I can borrow? I’ve left mine back at the flat. I—”

The taxi driver held up a hand, catching her eye in the mirror.

“No need to explain,” he said. “Here.”

He passed his phone into the back seat.

“Thank you,” Ana said, offering him a smile.

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