Sequel: Family Values ›
Status: Completed :)
Lead me From the Darkness
Chapter Nine
September 7th, 2011
Wednesday
The Market, Boston, MA
8:30 A.M.
Donna saw him standing by the store's doorway waiting for her. She took a deep breath and approached him.
"How long has he been abusing you?" asked Greg with a serious look on his face. She never thought she'd be telling someone about this.
"For almost as long as we've been together," she said. Instead of going inside the market they walked down the street. "How did you figure it out?"
"I noticed it since I met you."
"Is it really that obvious!" she said sounding upset. Not wanting to make her feel even worse he said
"I noticed it first in the library when it was the three of us, and yesterday." She unexpectedly broke down in sobs. Greg pulled her into a hug and then they sat down on a nearby bench.
"You can tell me anything you want," he said trying to comfort her. He pulled her into another hug and she buried her face into his warm jacket continuing to cry softly. He should have been a stranger to her, she'd only met him a few days ago but for some reason she trusted him. They continued to sit on the bench while Donna cried into his coat slowly getting calmer. She had needed to cry and breakdown for awhile now. When she finally looked up at him with a red tearstained face he said
"Come on let's get out of the cold and go to my place." He took her hand and led her back to his car. Donna's face felt much better out of he cold air and in Greg's warm car. They didn't talk much on the way home and when they got to Greg's condo he sat her on the couch in his living room and went to make them both hot chocolate.
Donna looked around his condo without getting up. It was nice but seemed too big for just one person. Greg came back to the living room and sat down with her. She took a sip of the hot chocolate. It instantly made her feel better when she felt it heat up the pit of her stomach. He turned to her and said in a serious tone
"Donna I know we haven't known each other for very long but your my friend and I can't stand by and watch this happen to you."
"It'll be fine," she said. "We've been together for so long, I can't break off the relationship, I love him still."
"He doesn't deserve your love," said Greg. Wondering if he was taking things a step to far he said "You're a wonderful, amazing, beautiful girl who needs someone who will treat her right."
"I just can't do it," she said. "I can't just leave him." Greg remembered Milan's advice. It would take him awhile to get Donna away from Henry. She abruptly changed the subject on him and said
"You have a really nice condo, do any of your teammates live here with you?"
"Nope just me," he said.
"It's a pretty big place," she said.
"Ya well up until this past summer I thought this was where I was going to get married and start a family." Donna felt shocked.
"You were engaged!?"
"No," he said noting her shock. "Me and my serious girlfriend Vikki were living here, and then she broke up with me this summer."
"I'm sorry," said Donna, unsure how to comfort him. He shrugged
"It's alright I guess, I'm slowly getting over her."
"You thought you were going to marry her though," said Donna.
"Time heals all wounds," he said. Donna didn't ask anymore questions and instead said
"Henry would be pissed if he knew I was here."
"You shouldn't let him control you." said Greg.
"Look what happens when I don't," she pulled up her sleeves to show him the dark bruises on her arms from Henry grabbing her. He reminded himself that he had to take things slow.
"Just know that you can always call me," he said putting his big hand over her small one. She smiled at him and said
"Thanks," She heard her phone ring from her pocket and saw Henry was calling her.
"Hello," she answered.
"Where are you?" said Henry.
"I went for a walk," she said.
"Well come home and make me breakfast," he said. Greg could hear what Henry was saying and wanted to take the phone from her and tell Henry off but he kept listening.
"I'll be there in a bit," said Donna.
"No now Donna," he said. She hung up and said
“I better get going.” She stood up off the couch and Greg followed her over to the door.
“Are you sure,” he said. “You could end this any time you want.” Donna knew his words were true and took a minute to think about it before saying.
“I just can’t, not now, not yet. Thanks Greg for helping me.” She opened the door and left.
Donna went back to the house and found Henry waiting for her. She went straight to the kitchen and started breakfast.
“It’s about time you got back,” he said. Donna ignored his comment and said
“What are you doing today?”
“Nothing,” said Henry, “It’s my day off.” Donna didn’t ask anymore questions and brought him his breakfast. She sat down on the couch next to him and they didn’t talk as they watched the morning news. Donna got up and went into the bedroom to get her laptop. She didn’t notice her cell phone slip out of her pocket and land on the couch when she stood up. As she searching for her laptop she heard Henry yell
“Why are you texting Greg?!” Donna felt a cold fear wash over her, feeling like a deer in the headlights. She was caught. She felt that her phone was no longer in her pocket and she stood frozen as she listened to his fast approaching footsteps. He walked into the room and held up her phone. “Why are you texting my teammates?!” he demanded.
“Henry, I’m just getting to know people and being friendly.”
“Sure,” he said with a cold unbelieving tone. He took a few steps closer to her and unexpectedly threw her phone to the ground with a loud bang. “Do not talk to my teammates!” he yelled. “If I find out that you’re still contacting Greg after this I’m going to take care of it!” She braced herself for a blow to the head but was surprised when he turned around and walked out. She stood there shocked she had been left unscathed. She slowly picked her phone up off the floor and was relieved to see that only the battery had popped out with the impact of hitting the wood floor. She turned it back on to see what Greg’s message had said. It read: ‘Hey how are things going?’ She didn’t dare answer. Feeling shaken by what had gone on she went back into the living room. Henry noticed her walk back in and said
“Don’t think you’ll be able to call him either, I’m keeping an eye on who your texting, calling, and emailing.” Henry had control over their Verizon phone plan and the passwords to her accounts on the computer. “I’ll make sure you don’t talk to him.” Said Henry quietly, sounding like he was reassuring himself. Donna knew he was scared. He didn’t want anyone to find out about his abuse. If someone told the police about it he could end up in jail and loose his NHL career.
The next day at practice Donna saw Greg looking over at her. She desperately wanted to tell him everything but was scared about what Henry would do if he caught them talking. There weren’t many people at the practice so when a man came loudly through the swinging doors it caught everyone’s attention. Even some of the players on the ice looked up. The man looked older, had thinning gray hair, and looked to be in his late 50s to mid 60s. He power walked to the bench and Claude Julien greeted him.
“Hey Colin,” said Claude. “What are you doing here?” Donna saw Greg skate over to the bench.
“Dad,” he said confused. “What are you here for?”
“I came down for a week visit,” said Colin. “To see how you’re doing with hockey.” Donna could clearly see that Greg was uncomfortable.
Colin stayed on the bench for the rest of the practice and Greg played differently. He was stiff and seemed critical on all of his drills. When the practice was over Donna was determined to get just one minute alone with Greg to tell him what happened. She hung out by the locker room entrance hoping Greg would come out before Henry. She noticed Greg’s dad also waiting. He didn’t look much like Greg and had an intimidating look to his face which made people feel scared to confront him. Donna felt her heart beat faster when Greg came out of the locker room. He saw her and came straight for her but his dad got in his way.
“I need to talk to you about practice,” said his dad.
“Hold on a minute,” said Greg, pushing past him. He came over to her and Donna could feel Colin watching them.
“Why haven’t you been answering my texts and calls,” he asked quietly.
“I can’t,” she said feeling helpless. “He found a text from you.” Greg looked horrified.
“What’d he do?”
“He said that if you ever contacted you again or any of his teammates he’d do something about it.”
“Do what?” asked Greg.
“I don’t know,” said Donna. “What should I do?” Greg ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“I’ll think of something,” he said. Donna saw Henry walking out of the locker room and quickly moved away from Greg. Greg went back to his father and Henry didn’t notice a thing.
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Thanks for reading :) Please comment.
Wednesday
The Market, Boston, MA
8:30 A.M.
Donna saw him standing by the store's doorway waiting for her. She took a deep breath and approached him.
"How long has he been abusing you?" asked Greg with a serious look on his face. She never thought she'd be telling someone about this.
"For almost as long as we've been together," she said. Instead of going inside the market they walked down the street. "How did you figure it out?"
"I noticed it since I met you."
"Is it really that obvious!" she said sounding upset. Not wanting to make her feel even worse he said
"I noticed it first in the library when it was the three of us, and yesterday." She unexpectedly broke down in sobs. Greg pulled her into a hug and then they sat down on a nearby bench.
"You can tell me anything you want," he said trying to comfort her. He pulled her into another hug and she buried her face into his warm jacket continuing to cry softly. He should have been a stranger to her, she'd only met him a few days ago but for some reason she trusted him. They continued to sit on the bench while Donna cried into his coat slowly getting calmer. She had needed to cry and breakdown for awhile now. When she finally looked up at him with a red tearstained face he said
"Come on let's get out of the cold and go to my place." He took her hand and led her back to his car. Donna's face felt much better out of he cold air and in Greg's warm car. They didn't talk much on the way home and when they got to Greg's condo he sat her on the couch in his living room and went to make them both hot chocolate.
Donna looked around his condo without getting up. It was nice but seemed too big for just one person. Greg came back to the living room and sat down with her. She took a sip of the hot chocolate. It instantly made her feel better when she felt it heat up the pit of her stomach. He turned to her and said in a serious tone
"Donna I know we haven't known each other for very long but your my friend and I can't stand by and watch this happen to you."
"It'll be fine," she said. "We've been together for so long, I can't break off the relationship, I love him still."
"He doesn't deserve your love," said Greg. Wondering if he was taking things a step to far he said "You're a wonderful, amazing, beautiful girl who needs someone who will treat her right."
"I just can't do it," she said. "I can't just leave him." Greg remembered Milan's advice. It would take him awhile to get Donna away from Henry. She abruptly changed the subject on him and said
"You have a really nice condo, do any of your teammates live here with you?"
"Nope just me," he said.
"It's a pretty big place," she said.
"Ya well up until this past summer I thought this was where I was going to get married and start a family." Donna felt shocked.
"You were engaged!?"
"No," he said noting her shock. "Me and my serious girlfriend Vikki were living here, and then she broke up with me this summer."
"I'm sorry," said Donna, unsure how to comfort him. He shrugged
"It's alright I guess, I'm slowly getting over her."
"You thought you were going to marry her though," said Donna.
"Time heals all wounds," he said. Donna didn't ask anymore questions and instead said
"Henry would be pissed if he knew I was here."
"You shouldn't let him control you." said Greg.
"Look what happens when I don't," she pulled up her sleeves to show him the dark bruises on her arms from Henry grabbing her. He reminded himself that he had to take things slow.
"Just know that you can always call me," he said putting his big hand over her small one. She smiled at him and said
"Thanks," She heard her phone ring from her pocket and saw Henry was calling her.
"Hello," she answered.
"Where are you?" said Henry.
"I went for a walk," she said.
"Well come home and make me breakfast," he said. Greg could hear what Henry was saying and wanted to take the phone from her and tell Henry off but he kept listening.
"I'll be there in a bit," said Donna.
"No now Donna," he said. She hung up and said
“I better get going.” She stood up off the couch and Greg followed her over to the door.
“Are you sure,” he said. “You could end this any time you want.” Donna knew his words were true and took a minute to think about it before saying.
“I just can’t, not now, not yet. Thanks Greg for helping me.” She opened the door and left.
Donna went back to the house and found Henry waiting for her. She went straight to the kitchen and started breakfast.
“It’s about time you got back,” he said. Donna ignored his comment and said
“What are you doing today?”
“Nothing,” said Henry, “It’s my day off.” Donna didn’t ask anymore questions and brought him his breakfast. She sat down on the couch next to him and they didn’t talk as they watched the morning news. Donna got up and went into the bedroom to get her laptop. She didn’t notice her cell phone slip out of her pocket and land on the couch when she stood up. As she searching for her laptop she heard Henry yell
“Why are you texting Greg?!” Donna felt a cold fear wash over her, feeling like a deer in the headlights. She was caught. She felt that her phone was no longer in her pocket and she stood frozen as she listened to his fast approaching footsteps. He walked into the room and held up her phone. “Why are you texting my teammates?!” he demanded.
“Henry, I’m just getting to know people and being friendly.”
“Sure,” he said with a cold unbelieving tone. He took a few steps closer to her and unexpectedly threw her phone to the ground with a loud bang. “Do not talk to my teammates!” he yelled. “If I find out that you’re still contacting Greg after this I’m going to take care of it!” She braced herself for a blow to the head but was surprised when he turned around and walked out. She stood there shocked she had been left unscathed. She slowly picked her phone up off the floor and was relieved to see that only the battery had popped out with the impact of hitting the wood floor. She turned it back on to see what Greg’s message had said. It read: ‘Hey how are things going?’ She didn’t dare answer. Feeling shaken by what had gone on she went back into the living room. Henry noticed her walk back in and said
“Don’t think you’ll be able to call him either, I’m keeping an eye on who your texting, calling, and emailing.” Henry had control over their Verizon phone plan and the passwords to her accounts on the computer. “I’ll make sure you don’t talk to him.” Said Henry quietly, sounding like he was reassuring himself. Donna knew he was scared. He didn’t want anyone to find out about his abuse. If someone told the police about it he could end up in jail and loose his NHL career.
The next day at practice Donna saw Greg looking over at her. She desperately wanted to tell him everything but was scared about what Henry would do if he caught them talking. There weren’t many people at the practice so when a man came loudly through the swinging doors it caught everyone’s attention. Even some of the players on the ice looked up. The man looked older, had thinning gray hair, and looked to be in his late 50s to mid 60s. He power walked to the bench and Claude Julien greeted him.
“Hey Colin,” said Claude. “What are you doing here?” Donna saw Greg skate over to the bench.
“Dad,” he said confused. “What are you here for?”
“I came down for a week visit,” said Colin. “To see how you’re doing with hockey.” Donna could clearly see that Greg was uncomfortable.
Colin stayed on the bench for the rest of the practice and Greg played differently. He was stiff and seemed critical on all of his drills. When the practice was over Donna was determined to get just one minute alone with Greg to tell him what happened. She hung out by the locker room entrance hoping Greg would come out before Henry. She noticed Greg’s dad also waiting. He didn’t look much like Greg and had an intimidating look to his face which made people feel scared to confront him. Donna felt her heart beat faster when Greg came out of the locker room. He saw her and came straight for her but his dad got in his way.
“I need to talk to you about practice,” said his dad.
“Hold on a minute,” said Greg, pushing past him. He came over to her and Donna could feel Colin watching them.
“Why haven’t you been answering my texts and calls,” he asked quietly.
“I can’t,” she said feeling helpless. “He found a text from you.” Greg looked horrified.
“What’d he do?”
“He said that if you ever contacted you again or any of his teammates he’d do something about it.”
“Do what?” asked Greg.
“I don’t know,” said Donna. “What should I do?” Greg ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“I’ll think of something,” he said. Donna saw Henry walking out of the locker room and quickly moved away from Greg. Greg went back to his father and Henry didn’t notice a thing.
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Thanks for reading :) Please comment.