Trigger Warning
mention of sexual assault

Please read with caution.
Thank you.

☾☆♡

The descent seemed endless as I kept checking the floor number on this stifling elevator, dauntingly counting down my freedom. With the time I had, I forgot to bring my phone, some money and even wear my shoes. Those weren't really important right now. The only thing I wanted was to escape.

I couldn't recall how it all happened. The adrenaline rush had helped me gain a good amount of strength. I could have screamed for help, but he was already one step ahead. He had me in a vice tight grip, felt him all over me. I had only two outcomes: either to think fast or become his prey.

Without putting on much thought, I had stepped on his foot as hard as I could. He staggered back and let go of me. In a split second, my decision was to run out of the hotel room and not look back. I'd deal with how I was going to face my father tomorrow.

When the elevator finally arrived at the ground floor, I continued to run. The cold tile floor had numbed my feet. Each step felt longer. The hotel entrance seemed miles away.

My feet finally touched the concrete ground as my nose smelled the crisp winter air. It was going to get colder, and I had nowhere to go.

Going back to my dorm was out of the question. I didn't want my dad or uncle to find me, at least just for tonight. Beck was out of the country and Jonny was at his parents' house tonight. There was only one place I could think of.

The walk to the cafe was the most agonizing thing. I was cold, hungry, and exhausted. My feet were sore from the sharp, glass-like dirt shards that cut into them as I walked the city's pavements. The cold air was biting my tear-stained face, no longer feeling anything. I may have shivered from the cold, but it was mostly out of fear.

Following a couple of hours, I eventually reached the proximity of our campus. Just a few more blocks until I reached my destination. It wasn't a surprise when I saw the cafe closed from a distance, but it was my only solace I had in that moment. Figures, the doors were going to be locked. Behind the cafe was a small back alley that my co-workers used for their smoke break. There was a stack of crates that I could sit on.

I heaved a long sigh after realizing I was safe. The adrenaline had finally died down and now I was feeling everything all at once. The tears came back, knowing how close I was to getting ruined. How was I going to move forward after this? What would I tell my dad?

These dark thoughts swirled through my mind, but an empty tin can falling from the dumpster interrupted me temporarily. My eyes darted up to see a silhouette of a man, squinting to find out who he was.

"Sab? Is that you? Shit, what happened?" He hurried his steps. I didn't flinch because the voice was all too familiar.

Our eyes met, and a worried Bradley came up to me.

"Why are you so cold? Have you been waiting all night outside? Why didn't you call Jonny?" His panicked voice sounded like he wanted to just give me a bear hug.

As much as I appreciated his concern, my lips were quivering from the cold. I couldn't tell him anything.

Bradley acted fast, fishing out the keys to the cafe from his suit jacket. The door opened with a loud creak, and he signaled me to follow him inside. When he noticed I wasn't budging, I showed him my feet filled with minor cuts from the debris I walked on when I came here.

"You walked with no shoes on?" There was no judgment in his tone. He was merely solving a puzzle in his head, wondering what the fuck had just happened.

"Let's get you inside." His back was facing me while his arms stretched behind him, ready to assist. "Hop on."

I did what he said without a complaint. It had been a long night, and I just wanted to curl, hide and burrow to the deepest end of the tunnel.

He settled me on the countertop. Without a word, he disappeared into the back office. I wrapped my arms around myself with the sudden feeling of vulnerability.

The minutes ticked by and the silence inside the cafe was deafening. I was about ready to have a breakdown again when Bradley rushed back with a folded fuzzy blanket, a small medical kit, and a warm cup of tea. He first wrapped the blanket around me, then handed me the warm cup. It immediately melted the nerves and was grateful for the help.

I didn't realize that I was so thirsty, almost gulping it down in seconds. My eyes met Bradley's and the small smile he showed was enough for me to relax a bit.

"You good now?"

"Yes." I croaked. My throat was still dry, like sandpaper. "Thank you."

"I need to check on your feet. You're bleeding all over."

I only nodded in response. He immediately got to work and inspected the damage on my feet. The moment was silent, but it brought some great comfort to me.

Only noticing that Bradley was sporting a nice dark suit. He must have come from the dinner they were supposed to have with their parents. Jonny had mentioned it was going to be a fancy one.

"Ah!" I shrieked in pain when he carefully pulled out a leaf that got stuck.

"My bad. I need to clean the wounds with an antiseptic. You might need to buckle up for this one," he warned.

"I didn't notice how bad it was going to be."

"Yeah. I'll make it better in no time. So..." He took his time before he continued in trepidation. "...what happened tonight? Only if you're comfortable sharing it with me."

"I...my uncle... he almost..." I stammered with my words.

His jaw visibly ticked in anger. "I think I know where this is going. You don't have to finish it."

"Thanks," I mumbled. It felt like I was going to throw up if I had to describe it in detail.

"And just to ease your nerves, this is a safe place. Okay?"

I only nodded, grateful for the reassurance. There was no denying that. Despite the silence, I was feeling more stable. He finished wrapping my feet in gauze, then put on wooly socks to keep it warm and comfy.

"There. I hope this will help you walk a little better. Do you want a change of clothes?"

"Yes, please."

"Let's get you to the rooftop. Hop on." He gestured for me to ride on his back again, and I willingly obliged. The cuts and splinters felt raw on my skin. There was no way I was going to take a few steps on the ground yet.

Noticing his woodsy smell, I couldn't help but think how good he looked tonight. It was a slight thought distraction, to say the least.

Opening the door to his rooftop suite, he carried me all the way to his bed. It was the first time seeing the place inside. The place was roomy, like a studio. Only one door to a bathroom and the rest of the floor were just in one area. From here, I could see a small kitchen in front of me and beside it was already the entryway.

"It's a little messy. Wasn't really expecting anyone to come up here." Bradley looked sheepish. His hand scratching the back of his head.

"I don't mind. It doesn't even look that messy." I commented.

Some clothes were strewn all over, and his dishes hadn't been washed. The place smelled nice, actually. A hint of a citrus scent. It all looked normal to me. Just went to show that he really used his space. Nothing like a quick cleanup and it would be spotless in no time.

"Here. They're clean." He handed me a shirt and a pair of sweats to wear. I thanked him and he went out of the tiny house for me to get changed without having to walk to the bathroom.

I was able to change into his clothes with a brief struggle. He came back, knocking on the door before entering again. The smile he gave me made me feel much better.

I finally felt clean and was in a place where no one could hurt me.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure if I could stomach anything, but I do feel hungry."

"I got a bag of frozen pizza rolls left. I'll go heat some up."

Tossing an entire pack into the air fryer, Bradley was quick to set the timer for a few minutes. Then he retrieved a bottle of water from his small fridge and handed me one. He sat beside me at a safe distance and began with small talk. It took off some things from my mind for a bit. He was really accommodating, and I wondered why he would help me out like this. Getting along with him was really easy.

When the timer dinged, he excused himself and got up. His back was to me while he plated the food. The pizza smell wafted throughout the small space. Bradley pulled up his small round table nearer to the bed so we could eat.

"Didn't you just have a fancy dinner with your family?" I asked him as I popped a hot pizza roll into my mouth. That burned my tongue quite badly.

For a moment, Bradley's face fell into a crestfallen expression. "Well, it's much different eating with a friend." With a serene smile, the light on his aura came back just like that.

☾☆♡