Free Gate Deadlock by Urania Sarri

pathetic. Please, don’t keep your
girlfriend waiting for my sake.’ I smiled coldly. I had managed to
keep my voice low and calm, but I knew my eyes had started to fill
with tears of tension and anger. I pulled my arm with all the
strength I could find and managed to free myself.
    ‘We have to talk.’ he demanded. As I tried to
walk past him, he took a step forward trying to take hold of my
shoulder. He missed it, but his fingers were caught in the strap of
my dress. Next minute, the strap was torn, and I heard the shiny
Swarofski beads make a tinkling sound as they hit the pebbled
floor. My eyes were full of tears ready to burst out, and I could
only see a haze in front of me.
    All of a sudden, I caught a glimpse of a hand
grabbing Colin’s wrist and, through the curtain of my misted eyes,
I was able to see Colin staring at Christopher, his eyes wide with
surprise.
    ‘Are you all right Emma?’ Christopher asked me,
without taking his eyes off Colin.
    ‘Yes.’ I muttered.
    ‘I think you owe the lady an apology.’ he said
to Colin, and the threat was unconcealed in his voice.
    What I saw in Christopher’s eyes, I had never
seen before. I was sure that he could, that he wanted, to hurt
Colin. His eyes were sparkling with such rage I had never imagined
he was capable of, as his face seemed as stiff as his voice. I was
scared he might get into serious trouble if he hurt Colin, who was
now speechless at the sight of Christopher, probably realizing the
danger he was in.
    ‘This is between Emma and me.’ Colin said
eventually.
    ‘Hardly.’ Christopher replied, and I knew he had
already started to lose his patience.
    ‘Please Christopher, let go of him. I want
to leave, now. I don’t want to
listen to anything he has to say!’
    Christopher hesitated for a moment. Then,
abruptly, he released Colin’s wrist and turned to me. The sparkle
that had scared me before, had now left his eyes. He put his arm
around my waist and walked me out, but not before casting a warning
look at Colin over his shoulder. I felt Colin’s eyes glowering on
us as we walked away and I knew he would not let this go so
easily.
    Back in Christopher’s car, I could not hold back
the tears anymore. I had turned my head to the window because I did
not want Christopher to see me crying. Not that he did not
know.
    ‘Do you want me to take you home?’ he asked,
making an effort to keep his voice soft and calm.
    ‘No. I can’t go home like this. Kate and Tony
will have so many questions and…’
    ‘Okay then.’ he said decisively.
    For a few minutes he was silent but I knew he
was still trying to calm himself down.
    ‘He’s not worth it, you know.’ he remarked in a
cold voice.
    He was right. But I was not crying for Colin. I
was crying out of humiliation and shock. Never before had I been
treated this way and Colin’s violent burst had shocked me. Part of
me still refused to acknowledge that Colin was capable of such
ungracious and violent behavior towards me.
    Christopher had already parked outside his
apartment.
    ‘Why are we here?’ I asked him.
    ‘Harry is staying over at Bessie’s tonight. So
we’ll fix your dress, and then I’ll take you home.’
    A few moments later, I was sitting on the
swinging loveseat at Christopher’s porch. The musical sound of the
wind chimes hanging above me was soothingly relaxing as it swayed
rhythmically to the soft breeze.
    I was not crying now. I had overcome the shock
and started to experience anger about my weakness for not being
able to defend myself better when Colin had grabbed me. I should
have slapped him with all my strength. I even regretted I did not
let Christopher hit him. I would like to see this now. It would
most certainly make my day.
    Christopher sat next to me with two glasses of
wine in his hands.
    ‘Here, take this. It’ll make you feel better.’
We both emptied our glasses at one gulp. It turned out that I
wasn’t the only one who needed the drink.
    ‘I’m sorry you