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It had been four days since Ty had come into my room. Each night that followed, I’d wake up screaming and he’d come in and lie on top of the covers so I could get some sleep. He wouldn’t say a word, just smile, close his eyes and settle down. Then I’d sleep like a baby for the rest of the night.
I liked that he wouldn’t ask what had happened, but I started to want to tell him. It would bubble up in my throat and try to slip out. But every time I opened my mouth nothing would come out.
I wanted to tell him how lost I was feeling. That I didn’t know who I was anymore.
I found myself wanting to tell Ty what Max had done to me, what he had said to me and the names he used to call me.
Nothing would come out and I’d end up thinking it all but never saying it.
It was funny how much sleep helped me heal. Something as simple as letting your body rest made such a huge impact I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so well. Maybe it had been when I lived at home with Corey?
Either way, it was a long time ago.
I woke up late Monday morning, rushing to get out of bed it was the first time since the incident I felt more like me.
The house was silent, which meant that Ty had taken Eli to preschool. I shook my head at the time, Ty had let me sleep in again, he had to stop helping me like this. When we moved out and got our own place it would be so much harder to get used to being on our own.
I feared that Eli was getting too close to everyone, when we moved off the compound it would be such a big change.
I peeked through the bedroom window, all of the cars were outside of the warehouse. A quick check of the time told me that the daily meeting would start in fifteen minutes.
My hair was greasy and there was no way I could get away without washing it so I used those fifteen minutes to my full advantage. I took a quick shower, plaited my hair and dressed in my black jeans and MAC security t-shirt.
I couldn’t bring myself to put my belt on so I left that and shoved my feet into my chucks.
It felt good to be going back to work. I wanted to start my training again and get back to normal, I was looking forward to having something to do with my days.
All I had done the last two weeks was sit there and think about Max. I needed to keep my mind busy, getting back to work would do that.
The bruising on my eye and throat was almost gone and easily covered with makeup. My ribs still twinged if I moved too quickly. But I felt almost back to normal, at least what my normal was.
I relished in the sound of the gravel crunching under my feet when I walked over to the warehouse pulling the metal door open not without a struggle and breathing in deeply. It had its own distinctive smell, a mixture of coffee and man something that put my body at ease.
Everyone was at the table, all conversation stopped as I walked in, they all turned around, each with varying degrees of shock on their faces.
I walked to my chair, still with a slight limp but smiling. Though my leg was better it still wasn’t fully healed, I could walk on it which to me was all that mattered.
It was better than sitting around at home.
Home.
I had to stop thinking about Ty’s place as home. I was getting way too comfortable.
“Morning” I smiled and sat down.
I pulled the pad and paper from next to Ty and read what they had already covered, all that was on there was todays date. They were all still staring at me when I looked up.
“Kay?”
“Yes?” I turned to Ty.
“What are you doing?”
I scanned the warehouse, everything still looked the same but I couldn’t bring myself to look down at the table. I was sure that there would still be blood on it.
“Writing the meeting notes” I rolled my eyes picking up the pen and drawing a line underneath the date.