Free Essentialism (Bridgette & Troy's Story) by LK Collins Page A

of people in my life and this wraps them all together. This one is of a seated fairy, surrounded by tons of sparrows and the wind from their wings swirling about. The large birds each represent a person. I’m the fairy seated in the midst of it all. Most of my tattoos are black and grey, minus the one I got with Lex, of an orchid with half of a butterfly perched on it.
    After Troy drenches my back with his kisses he lies down next to me tickling my skin and is mere inches from my face. “Thank you for that,” he says placing a gentle kiss on my forehead and covers us back up…
    I wake to a loud bang, instantly jolting upright. Clutching the covers to me, I glance around my room. It’s dark and quiet. I don’t hear anything except for the noise from the birds chirping in the rainforest on my TV. It must have been the music on the TV that woke me. I turn it off and lay back down. Checking my phone, I smile as Troy did indeed text me back. I stare at the words for a few minutes, trying to make sense of what he said. I miss you too. Am I still dreaming? There is no way he meant to send that to me, did he?
    Another loud bang shakes me and I panic. What the fuck? The noise almost sounds like it’s coming from the roof. My hands begin to tremble and I don’t know what to do. The moment I hear the noise again, I dial Troy’s number. I’m huddled on the top of my bed, shaking. It rings and I pray he will answer.
    “Hey,” he answers in a cool, crisp tone.
    “Troy,” I whisper and there’s a crackle in my voice. “I…I…” I can’t get the words out.
    “Bridge, what’s wrong?”
    “I…I don’t know.”
    “Talk to me, Bridgette. What’s wrong?”
    “Something’s…” is the only coherent word I can get out.
    “Dammit, you’re freaking me out.”
    I hear the bang again and scream. I swear my bed just shook. “Shit, where are you?”
    “Home,” I whisper.
    “Stay on the phone with me. I’m on my way. Whatever you do, don’t hang up, okay?”
    “Mmm-hmm,” I say and shake my head clutching my knees to my chest.
    “Is Cara or Abel there?”
    “Nuh-uh.”
    “I know you’re freaking out, but I need you to talk to me. Can you do that for me?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    I hear wind in the background and I know he’s on his way. “Where are you?”
    “My room.”
    “Why did you scream?”
    “I…I keep hearing—” I stop talking when I hear voices outside. “Fuck. Someone’s outside, I can hear them.”
    “Look out the window.”
    “No, I don’t want them to see me.”
    “Okay. Okay. Good point.”
    “Please just get here.”
    “I’m hurrying. Bridge, it’ll be okay. I’m almost there.”
    I hear whoever it is outside shouting. “I think they’re leaving. I just heard tires screech.”
    “What’s the gate code?”
    “Four, two, seven, seven.”
    “I don’t see anyone leaving the neighborhood.”
    “There’s another exit, separate from the entrance.”
    “Go to the front door. I’m almost there.”
    I scramble out of bed. Knowing Troy is close gives me the courage to look out the kitchen window. I see him pull up and my heart settles a little. “Stay inside. Someone was definitely here. They egged the shit out of your house. I’m gonna walk around and make sure they’re gone.”
    “Okay.”
    He’s quiet for a minute and I stay by the front door. “Let me in.”
    As quickly as I can, I unlock the door. He slides in relocking it, and instinctively I drop my phone clinging to him. He shrouds his warm arms around my shivering body. It must be the adrenaline that has me so worked up. “Shhh, it’s all right. I got you.”
    I nod my head, trying to absorb his words.
    “Come on, let’s sit down.”
    We walk to the couch and sit. He still has his arm around me and I nestle in his warmth, feeling safe. “Thank you for coming over,” I murmur.
    “Of course. Bridge, who do you think did this?”
    I nod my head, feeling sick imagining David stooping to such a low, childish level.