***Trigger Warning***

I shut my laptop, even though he's already seen my screen. "A friend told me about this case, isn't it terrible? I don't even want to look at it anymore, it's making me sick." I wasn't lying, I felt like throwing up.

He surprises me with his reaction. "Yeah, I've heard about it too. I hope he spends his life in prison for what he did to those poor girls. Like, how does someone even do that?" He reaches his hands out. "Here, do you want me to take that?"

I hand my laptop over to him. "Thank you."

He spares me a sympathetic grin as he puts my laptop on charge. "Want to watch a movie or something to take your mind off of all that depressing stuff?"

I hold my stomach. "A comedy movie actually sounds amazing right now."

He switches on the TV and finds a funny movie for us to watch. I have no idea which one because I'm not paying attention. I probably would laugh if my mind didn't keep going back to my conversation with Brexton. Where is Brant? Why is he off living his life when he should at minimum be on a sex offenders list?

I stand up abruptly and turn to Jeremiah. "I'm going to go for a jog. I'll be back soon." I throw on my shoes and run out the door. I had to get out of that house. I felt claustrophobic and could no longer take it.

I run full speed through the city, through a thunder storm. The large droplets of rain revitalize me. I don't care that I have mascara streaking down my face, or that these shoes are starting to rip from the downpour of water covering them. I am having the time of my life. I don't even consider how much of an issue not being able to see is until I find myself staring down headlights. I pick up my pace, trying to outrun the car, but I haven't run in years so my attempts were futile.

By the grace of God, the car was able to stop in time. I intend to keep running, but almost getting hit by a car really killed the mood. I make my way to the sidewalk when I hear high-heeled footsteps gaining on me. A pretty woman, who looks to be about my age comes up to me with panic-stricken eyes. She has bright blonde hair, pulled back into a long sleek ponytail and is wearing a tan trench coat. I can't help but glance down at the culprit of the clicks on the sidewalk. Red bottom Lou Vuitton heels.

She puts her hands on her knees, catching her breath. "Are you okay?"

I thought she'd be angry with me for running out in front of her but instead she seems...concerned? "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm sorry for scaring you, it's really hard to see anything in this storm."

She lifts her coat over her head to protect herself from the rain. "Do you live close?"

"Yeah, a couple blocks."

She looks horrified. "A couple blocks?! Okay, get in my car."

This stranger did not seriously just say that. This is how every horror movie starts. So, why am I considering doing it? Okay, I've officially went off the deep end. "It's alright, it's really not that far."

"It is in a freaking thunderstorm! I am not taking no for an answer."

I stand my ground, a ground which is drenched and probably leading to me getting hypothermia. "No offense, you seem very nice and all, but I don't know you."

She reaches a hand out to me, causing her trench coat hat to fall. "I'm Inara. There, now we're not strangers anymore. I'd also like to point out that you were already up close and personal with my car so I think we're already well enough acquainted for this next step. Get in!"

I shake her hand. "Lyra, and you make a good point Inara."

Her smile is very pretty, her high cheekbones reach her eyebrows. She runs to her car, frantically pressing the unlock button. She stops to open the passenger door and motions for me to get in. "I'm going to die if you don't hurry."

I throw myself into the car. "Sorry!"

She jumps in and starts her car, cranking the heat the whole way up. "Why were you out here anyways? It's so late and the weather was terrible all day."

I don't know if I've had a mental break or if I just desperately wanted a friend here but something made me want to open up to her. "I was feeling caged in and didn't have anywhere else to go."

She gives me a worried look. "Caged in? How come?"

I move the wet strands of hair out of my face. "It feels like my every move is being watched by my boyfriend. He's so insanely jealous of everything and has too many rules. I can't even take a shower without him asking why and how long I'll be."

She asks for clarification and I give it to her. I tell her everything that's been happening in my relationship with Jeremiah. She is quiet as I speak, looking straight ahead and nodding.

Inara snaps her fingers in front of my face. "Lyra, wake up! You need to dump him!"

"I can't do that! I moved clear from Australia to be with him. I don't have anywhere else to go."

She grabs my shoulders and makes me face her. "Not true. You just need to save up money until you can get a new place. There's ton of cheap hotels that you could've stayed in while you figured it out. I think you've been making excuses because you're scared to leave him. Like, you don't think he'll be able to handle life without you. Well, news flash, that's his problem. Now that he's lead you to run in front of my car, which may or may not have been a suicide attempt, I'm invested. You're staying with me."

Who was this girl? People didn't do this in real life. "We barely know each other, moving in sounds like a recipe for disaster."

She dismisses me. "I have no doubt you and I are going to best friends, so it's fine. What's a recipe for disaster is you staying in a toxic and potentially abusive relationship."

I want to be as strong as she thinks I can be, but there are so many things to consider. There's one thing in particular that won't leave my mind. "We're supposed to go visit my family in Australia next week. I can't not go, I've missed out on too much time with them already."

"Lyra, I will buy you and I tickets to Australia the moment you walk out of that house with your bags packed. Don't you worry about it, I have plenty of money. We'll talk about why another time."

"I can't let you do that! I make some money working as a nurse, but I've had to cut my hours way back since I've started school and I also have to pay for that school along with all my usual bills. It's just not practical."

She makes a face at me. "I'm buying the tickets, no debate!"

I couldn't wrap my head around how we got into this conversation, but deep down I knew she was right. The life I've been living wasn't sustainable. I love Jeremiah, but that wasn't enough. Inara was right, I was only staying with him because I wanted to protect him.

I tilt the seat back a little for comfort. "Thank you so much Inara! I don't want to let you pay for it, but the fact that you're even willing is so sweet of you."

"Do you want to end your relationship?" Her voice is kind.

I close my eyes as I answer her tough question. "Yeah, for awhile now."

She claps. "Good girl! I know you don't care but I'm so proud of you!"

My lips start to tremble. I look out the window as I fight back tears. No one has ever tried so hard to guide me out of this darkness. Who knew what I needed was for a pretty blonde to almost hit me with her car to make me come to my senses.

"I care." I nearly whisper.

I give Inara directions to Jeremiah and I's house, butterflies swarming in my stomach. Was I really able to do this? I don't know what he'll do. I can't picture him taking this well. It'd be a blow to his ego, his biggest kryptonite. When she pulls into the driveway, I get a random burst of courage.

"Want me to come in?" She puts the car in park and looks at me.

I consider her offer. "I appreciate it, but I think this is something I need to do alone." I step out of the car. "If I'm not back in twenty minutes, come find me."

She agrees and I walk to the front door. My anxiety is sky high when I reach for the doorknob. The gravity of what I'm about to do hits me and my hands start to tremble. I push down my fear and open the door.