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I walked out of the gas station, trying to ignore the big man following behind me. I quickened my pace as I rounded the corner, then I heard boot heels scrape against the ground. I quickly turned around only to see a hand lash out at my face. It was instantly sore from the contact. I let out a loud quick scream, but it was so late at night that no one was around besides the lady behind the counter in the gas station. I tried to pull away but his hands grasped and held so tightly. A car came screeching around the corner with its lights off. The man pushed me into the side of the car and my mouth hit the door frame. I could already taste the hot salty blood from where my lip split open. I was so scared but I fought back with all the strength in my body. It wasn’t enough. He hit me again but this time with more force. The man pulled me into the car and onto his lap. Before I blacked out, I heard a familiar voice.

“Open your eyes Stacy! Fight back!” Then I felt hands around my waist and a hard pull.

I listened to the voice and I fought against the men in the car. But I realized I wasn’t the only one fighting. When I opened my eyes I saw him. John was trying to pull me out, trying to help me. The men in the car gave up and let go. I fell to the ground and instantly sobbed. I realized he had hit me more times than I thought and my whole body hurt from fighting back so hard. My shorts were open and pulled down a little and my shirt was ripped open. I had blood dripping down my chin from the deep cut on my lip and my ribs hurt so bad that it hurt to cry, but I couldn’t stop. Then John’s arms scooped me up and held me close. I heard his voice again.

“It’s okay Stacy. I’ve got you and I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He held me for a while then he helped me up and brought me back to my apartment. I lived alone in a one bedroom, one very small bathroom. The kitchen was cramped and my couch was lumpy. But there wasn’t a place in the world I would have rather been at that moment.

John was the guy who lived down the road. He was a couple years older than me but he was my drinking buddy and we were close. So close that I didn’t feel uncomfortable when he brought me to the shower and took my clothes off. He turned the water on hot and left me to do the rest. I ached all over but the water was helping. I could see all the blood washing down the drain. I looked down to my waist and saw a very long and deep scratch that stretched all down my side. I looked further down and saw that my left knee was swollen and bleeding from hitting the ground the first time the man hit me. It all made me think. “What did I even go to the store for? What was so damn important that it couldn’t wait till the morning?”

I wrapped the towel around me and walked into my bedroom and saw my pajamas already sitting on the corner of my bed.

“Thank you John,” I mumbled to myself.

I put them on and walked out into my cluttered living room to see John waiting for me on my lumpy couch. I fell to my knees and covered my face trying to ignore the pain jetting from my left leg. I couldn’t hold it in. John was suddenly by my side with his arms around me. He lifted me into his arms and he carried me back to my room. He laid me in my bed and slid in next to me. This whole time, neither of us spoke a word. The only noise in the room was my sobs. I finally fell asleep but instead of having a dream, it was a memory.

John and I sat on the couch late at night drinking beer and listening to music. We talked about so many things. He told me that I was beautiful and he thought so ever since he first saw me. He told me I was his type and wanted me. By this time the music turned and we were listening to seductive music. I couldn’t help but want him back. Every song that played made me want him more. We laughed and I cried. And every time I cried, he was right there. He stayed up with me till the morning just being there for me and talking to me. No one ever stayed up just because I asked them to. He showed me so much wisdom. He told me you can love someone, but find out that they are the wrong person for you. You could be with someone for years thinking you will die with them but then meet someone else who you would rather be with. That whole night I stared into his green eyes and appreciated his white smile.

When I woke up, I just wanted to be asleep. I wished I could just replay that wonderful night in my head over and over. I rolled over and John was still sleeping next to me. He hadn’t left my side the whole night. That was when I finally realized I was in love with John Kenny. He was always there for me. And every time I thought about him my whole core shivered with joy. I couldn’t help but smile even though the past night had been the worst of my life. I was in love with John Kenny and I couldn’t tell if I was happier about that or more terrified about the night before. All I knew is that I would always be okay if he was there.