“Has it really been that long?” I ask in a shocked whisper. Four months! I gasp and Curly grabs my shoulder. I still don’t know his name so I start to call him curly in my head. He guides me over to a seat near the window and I sit down. A giant sloppy grin is planted on his face and I can’t help but smile at him. In no time we’re both laughing hysterically even though no one said anything funny. The crowd around Curly and dispersed and it was just the two of us.
“My name is Harry, by the way,” He tells me after we catch our breath. “I’m kind of famous. That’s what I was trying to tell you.” I smile.
“Apparently I’m kinda famous too!” Harry laughs again.
“How can you joke about that? What happened to you?” He asks, his voice growing serious. My smile melts away and I pull my legs up so my chin is resting on my knees. I turn my face away from him and stay silent. After a few minutes, he realizes I’m not going to say anything. He rests his hand on my arm. “I’m sorry. Do you want to go to the police or what?” My eyes widen in horror and I shake my head vigorously.
“We can’t go to the police,” I say as I grab his shoulders. I stare into his green eyes, trying to make him understand. Harry shakes his head yes, even though I know he doesn’t understand.
“We can go to my place,” he suggests. “It isn’t too far from here.” I think about a few moments, until I realize it’s the only place I can go.
“Okay. I’ll try to explain when we get there.” We both stand up and he leads me outside. It was a short walk but I decide what I’m going to tell him in my head. I can explain the police, the jumpiness, and the dirtiness. There’s no reason I need to tell Harry everything that happened though.
He leads me up into an apartment and opens a door into a really nice place. I walk in after him and stand there awkwardly as he hangs up his jacket.
“Would you like something to eat?” I stare at him, expecting him to laugh. When his face stays serious I realize that Harry isn’t like Him. Kyle. Thinking his name makes me shudder. Harry’s face grows worried and I smile.
“No thank you,” I answer. I can tell that confuses him because you can see my ribs poking through my shirt and I look like I’m starving. However, I know I have good muscle tone. They’re well defined and maybe he’ll just think I like to stay super fit. Well if he does, that’ll change when I tell him my story.
“Alright, then let’s sit.” He gestures towards the couch. We walk over and sit down. I take a deep breath. I just want to get this over with. I look into his eyes and burst into tears. That wasn’t part of the plan. He pulls me into a tight hug and whispers in my ear. “It’s going to be okay, Love. Shhh. You don’t have to tell me right now.” I shudder with the sobs, but I manage to choke out some words.
“Yes. I do.” As soon as I calm down and get my breathing level, I begin. “I can’t tell you everything. You should also know that I’m still extremely scared. I’ll start at the beginning. I was abducted when I got off the bus. It was June and I was just wandering around aimlessly. A man came up to me. I had just turned 18 and was ready for the world. He starts complimenting me and asks me on a date. I was really excited. This guy was so nice and sweet. I didn’t think anything of climbing in his car for a trip to Nando’s. Well obviously I never made it there. Instead, as soon I climbed in the car, he held up a rag with chloroform on it to my face. I was out is seconds. When I woke up, I was chained in a basement with nothing but a shower, a toilet, and a bed. His name was Kyle he told me. He kept me there for his own-“ I think about how to put this without just coming out and telling him. “Enjoyment.” I finally decide. “Sometimes he’s bring his friends and they’d use me for their entertainment. Every time he came down-“ My voice cracks and I break into tears. Harry pulls me in for a hug again.
“It’s okay. You can tell me some other time. You can stay here for now.”
“I can’t let you do that for me,” I object. He laughs.
“You can and you will. You said we can’t go to the police and I don’t think you’ll be safe out there. You will stay here.” His tone let me know that he wasn’t going to budge in his decision. I fake pouted but there was a hint of a true smile. A real smile for the first time in four months. Who was this guy and why did he have such an effect on me?