Free A Will To Change (Hope) by Beth Rinyu Page A

off taking my chances with an intruder.
    “Who the fuck is Will?” he said as he read over my messages on my phone. His words were almost incoherent. He was totally wasted.
    “None of your business. Give me my phone back.” I was surprised when he gave it up without a fight. 
    “Are these your special flowers, Gabby?” he asked, walking over to the vase on the counter.
    I didn't answer. I just glared at him with pure hatred. He lifted his arm and swept it across the counter as the vase came crashing down on the ceramic tile floor, shattering in a million pieces. I bent over to try and salvage my flowers, but it was too late. He stomped on every single one, flattening them like a pancake.
    “You are such a bastard,” I said, instantly regretting my words. Unfortunately, I knew what he was capable of doing when he was drunk. He yanked my hair and pulled me up, grabbing my neck and pushing me up against the wall. He pressed his thumbs into the sides of my neck and panic started setting in as I was finding it hard to breathe.
    “Well, maybe I wouldn't be such a bastard if you weren't such a slut.”
    I knew I had to do something to break free. I lifted my knee and he quickly removed his hands to protect himself from what he knew was coming, not allowing it to have the effect that I was hoping it would. I broke free and tried to get out the front door, but I wasn’t quick enough. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “You are nothing but a piece of garbage, and that's all you ever were. My parents were right about you.” I turned my head, unable to look at him. “Look at me when I talk to you, fuckin’ bitch!” he shouted as his fist met my face. I fell to the floor, cowering down and covering my head. I was shaking uncontrollably, trying to halt the pain. I sat on the kitchen floor, hysterically crying, hoping that this was it and he would just walk away. I never thought of myself as anyone's punching bag and always stood up for myself, but Evan was well over six feet and I was just a little over five so there was no competition. 
    When I heard the bedroom door slam, I quickly got up, grabbing my purse and my phone. Not knowing where I was headed, I ran out of the apartment. I knew anywhere was better than there. My face radiated with pain and I could already feel it swelling. I stepped out onto the sidewalk, feeling totally distraught as I finally flagged down a taxi. 
    “Where to?” the driver asked, looking in his review mirror. He quickly turned around at the sight of my face. “Miss, are you okay?” 
    I nodded as the tears rolled down my face. I didn't know where to tell him to take me because, the truth was, I had nowhere to go. Rochelle was working and I really didn't want everyone at work knowing anyway. I contemplated for one brief second at giving him my mother's address, then stopped myself. “Do you need me to take you to the hospital?” I shook my head and quickly rambled off the address of the one person that I knew would be there for me - Will.
    My eye was swollen shut by the time I arrived at Will’s. I paid the driver and made my way up to the second floor, realizing that I should have called him first. I wasn’t even sure if he was home. If he wasn’t, what the heck was I going to do? I was just so tired and I hurt so bad, all I wanted to do was sleep. I took a deep breath before pressing the buzzer on his door. I was so thankful when I heard footsteps on the other side. I tried my best to stop my tears when Will opened the door and immediately focused on my eye.
    “Holy shit, Gabby! What the fuck happened?!” He immediately turned around and my good eye focused to the half-naked girl sitting on his couch. “Janelle, you need to leave!” he demanded.
    “Oh, my god, Will. I am so sorry. Just call me later.” I felt like such an idiot. I had no right to just barge in on him like this. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his apartment.
    “What the hell, Will?” the girl