Oh God.
It’s all I can think as he releases my hair and begins to loosen his belt.
Stay calm.
Ground my fear.
Ground my fear.
Stay still.
Ground my fear.
Stay still!
I tell myself, but I can’t. I can’t let him win.
Kicking as hard as I can with my legs, I do all I can to delay him because Christopher is coming for me. I’m sure of it.
I’ll always find you.
You’re mine to protect.
You have me. Always.
He promised me.
Pain stabs me in the chest with every pump of my heart.
“Keep fighting,” Tomasz taunts as he opens his fly. “It makes it better when I win.”
His erection bobs over my chest. Bile burns up my throat.
Holding the arm that’s trapped beneath his leg, he scoots lower down my body, twisting my arm above my head where he captures my right wrist along with my left.
The dam breaks as he straddles my thighs, his free hand following the contour of my body to my belly.
Tear after tear rains down my temples, puddling in my ears so that all I can hear is muffled waves and all I can smell is singed air.
Beachy bonfires. Autumn nights. Rich forests. Still lakes. Warm whisky. Loving hands.
Fingertips trace my scars. “Did it hurt?”
White-tipped waves. Soft breeze. Gold skin. Caring smile. Caring smile. Caring smile.
To me, you are everything.
That’s my last thought as the world crushes me. Gravity gives up and the firmament collapses on me. The waters above and below engulf me.
I’m drowning. And drowning. Drowning.
It’s weightless.
It’s cold.
Warm hands. Rich heart. Caring soul. Fiery eyes.
If you can cry, you can fight!