Sweaty Summer Nights

“Like hell you are!” he roars.

Without thinking, I knee him straight in the balls as hard as I can. With a grunt and a groan, Malcom doubles over and releases me. I take the opportunity to rush from the room, down the stairs and outside.

My heart is pounding. Adrenaline is rushing through me.

I’ve never been so fueled with energy and excitement in my life. I’m leaving everything I’ve ever known behind to start a new life with the most wonderful man in the world.

I’m exploding with joy as I run past the fancy resort homes on my way to Christian’s cabin. He’ll be waiting for me, ready to take me away from all this so we can start a new life together.

I love him so much.

He gave me the strength to realize how abusive and toxic my situation was and that I should leave it, and now I’m going to do just that. And I can’t wait to get off the pill and get pregnant with his baby. The thought of my stomach expanding as his child grows inside me fills me with more joy than I can fully process at this moment.

One step at a time, Katie. One step at a time.

Quick steps right now as I race to his cabin. The lights are on. No doubt he’s waiting for me, already set to go. I don’t even hesitate once I get there; I just take the front steps two at a time, push open the front door, and rush inside.

But what I see once I’m there nearly causes my heart to stop, and every ounce of joy that was flooding through me instantly transforms into a chilling pain that almost drops me.

Standing in the living room is Christian, but he doesn’t look ready to go anywhere with me. In fact, he doesn’t look like he was expecting me to come see him at all, because in his arms is some girl with all her clothes off and her lips pressed against his.

That’s it, I think. I have nothing now.

The world seems to slow down. It’s like watching a horror movie in slow motion, only this is worse than anything I’ve seen in any movie ever.

The pain in my heart is too much to bear. I quickly turn around and go out the way I came in. I don’t know why I do it, but I slam the door hard behind me.

Maybe I want him to know I saw him and that he’s been busted, or maybe I just want to interrupt their little moment of sexy-time. Either way, it’s what I do before I take off running again.

I can’t be sure, but I think I hear Christian’s voice calling out my name when I’m halfway back to our house, but I don’t stop running. I go around the back to where my dad puts the keys in the stupid little blue and white striped bowl on the table, grab them, and race out to the car. Seconds later, I’m pulling out of the parking lot with my foot on the gas like a race car driver.

Where am I going? I have no idea. All I know is that I can’t stay here with my crazy toxic family or the man who made me fall in love with him and then betrayed me.

My heart is broken.

Shattered.

And I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself.