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.