Stanton Box Set

Baby. Where are you? It’s not how it looks.

Please. You are not safe alone.

I sob into my hands. Not safe, what does that mean? Nobody could hurt me as much as you have.

Natasha, please. You have no money.

My lip quivers as I realise the sick truth: he is right. But if I go back he is going to feed me some bullshit story. Lie some more. Amelie can fucking have him, they deserve each other.

Please Natasha.

I’m frantic.

I love you more than anything.

I stand and start to shake my hands. Should I go back? Maybe I should just listen to him? It was just once. I cry out loud as the pain lances through my chest. Once is one too many times, asshole.

Natasha,

Please tell me you are alright.

Where are you?

I pull my feet up into a foetal position. My phone beeps a message. I look at the screen. It’s Max.

Natasha, it’s me.

Let me come get you.

Can I trust him? I put my hand over my mouth as I think. He texts again.

Where are you?

I will not tell him.

I stand as I exit the stall and start to pace. I catch sight of myself in the mirror. Bloody hell, I look like something from a Halloween movie. Makeup is smeared all over my face.

Natasha, trust me.

You have my word.

Fucking hell. What am I going to do? My hands shake as I put them over my mouth to think. My phone beeps again. Joshua

Tash, I’m begging you.

Come back. Let me explain.

I grab my head in my hands. How can you explain having sex with someone else? There is no explanation. The harsh reality is that while I hit rockbottom on the other side of the world, after murdering my father, he was making passionate love to another woman. A woman he swore he had no feelings for. A woman who I know he loves and could no longer resist.

A text beeps. It’s Max.

Natasha, listen to me.

He is tracking your phone as we speak.

You need to tell me where to meet you.

I have your passport and ID with me.