Us

It was dark when she opened her eyes. Slowly. They widened as she realized where she was. Her face was wet. With her tears and worse... No! She didn’t want to think about that!! She crawled out of the closet and stumbled to the bathroom shaking with rage and shame.

I was waiting for her there.

She looked at me with bruised eyes and I could only stare at the signs of horror inflicted on her.

Words were not needed.

Her eyes filled up and so did mine.

“Are you ok?”

She nodded, dazed, and bent down to wash her bloodied face.

“You knew there would be a consequence didn’t you?” I asked as she leaned back and looked at me with the terror of the memory still in her eyes.

“Yes”, she whispered “but not like this. God, not this!!!”

“Why didn‘t you do anything? How could you let this happen to us?” I was crying now, sick with guilt and anxiety.

“It’s all my fault.. everything... ”, she whispered

“No! It’s not! You don’t deserve this!!” I shouted. I wanted to reach over and hug her, but I stood still instead, knowing that if I touched her we would have to confront a truth neither of us were ready for.

“What are we going to do now?” I asked urgently.

"I don’t know… I cant.. I can’t..”

“You must tell them!!”

“No!! Promise me you wont say anything either! Promise me! Forget about today! Pretend. We used to do that before.. ”

I shook my head. She was right. “I’m here for you! You know that, right?”

Her features distorted as another ripple of realization spread through her “Yes.. I know” she whispered, “You’re the only one who is.”

“What now?” I couldn’t decide. I was aching all over. My head hurt to even think of what lay ahead.

I don’t know she whispered.. I don’t know… Oh God, no!! It was a dream right? Only a dream.”

“Yes it was! Nothing happened!! We need to believe that.”

“I want to go home... I’m ready now.”

I couldn’t help it. I reached for her even as she raised her arm… and our fingers met against the cold silver glass.

Reinforcing grim reality.