Chapter 128

***Kenya.***

***April 4th, A few months earlier***

My lips spoke.

My heart screamed.

*Save me! Please Andy!*

It was Thursday and we were at La Chère, celebrating Hank's 25th birthday. Our friends were present, making small talk, while my heart bled.

I could tell Andrea saw deep inside my gaze. She regarded me, suspiciously. Unfortunately, I couldn't offer her any validation.

A bruise around my left eye, marks on my right knuckles. Andrea understood. I saw questions in her eyes.

"So baby, tell them how we've planned to make love all night for my birthday." Hank shamelessly revealed.  I flushed. Embarrassed. All eyes turned to me.

My friends knew I was a very private person. Seeing Hank say such surprised them.

"I need to use the ladies." I called out, hastily. Heading for the washroom.

Inside, I shut the door. I stared at myself in the mirror; tears blurring my vision, as I saw the woman I had become.

Frightened. Beaten, most days. Other days, I wished I hadn't started this relationship in the first place. I wished I hadn't gone to apologize to him, weeks ago.

Hank was killing me slowly from inside. If he wasn't hitting me for refusing to have sex. He was shoving me violently for contradicting his words. I was being tortured.

I cried violently.

These recent injuries, were from three days ago, when he came to my place. We argued over me refusing sex again in our relationship.

After all the kisses and foreplay, he had wanted to go further and I had refused. I was already doubting the relationship. I wanted out. Scared for my life, taking all these abuse from Hank.

That was when he hit me. The slap had come as a shock. Like a flash of blinding light.

The first sting of the ache had come as a ripple through my body.

My mind trying to comprehend what happened and he had pushed me hard. Crashing me into my glass coffee table. I could barely hear a thing more after that. Shooting pain tore through my entire body.

I hadn't gone to the hospital, because he had been scared of the cops. I had complied, crying silently. He had tended the wounds by himself. His tenderness, a vivid contrast.

"Why are you still with him?"

I jerked in the direction of Andrea's voice. She assessed me silently. Sympathy in her eyes as she looked at me.

"Then who would date me?" I threw back, subtly. She came closer and held my shoulders. Tears pooling.

"Any other man, Kenya. But not him. You are a beautiful girl. Talented, witty. Any man would be lucky to have you. You don't need this. Look at what he has done to you." Her gaze raked me.

"He has turned you into a spineless woman. Stand up for yourself Kenya. Don't let him do this to you." She grew quieter now. Her eyes leaking tears. Sorrow in them. "It isn't worth it. I watched my mum suffer this."

My ears heard the warning. My eyes saw the horror in Andy's eyes. But my heart said something else. My heart embraced the joy of sharing a label with a man. Even though I was aware the danger this man posed for me.

It was like a moth purposely flying to a flame, accepting all the consequences of the fatal attraction.

My phone rang in my pocket and I picked it up. Hank. I panicked. I needed to get away tonight. At least just for tonight. Tomorrow, any other day, I would be ready to fight.

"Andy." I called, desperately. "Can I crash at your place tonight? II don't have the strength to fight him. Not yet. But I am sure I'd find it along the way." My eyes held my desperation. She regarded me with worry.

"That's no problem, babes. But do you want me to tell Rory and Mike, so they'd just handle this fucker, once and for all?" She asked, worriedly. I shook my head. I wasn't yet ready to be alone again.

For most of my life, I had suffered the lack of men's affections. I had yearned to be treated like any other normal girl. Wished for a man to look at me the way Hank looked at me, sometimes.

"Not tonight, Andy. Maybe when am a bit mentally prepared for what accompanies my separation from him," I said, weakly. She let her eyes linger on me, a moment, before she nodded.

I felt relieved that I wouldn't have to spend the night with him and have us fight again over sex.

To me, sex was a sacred bond. An act to be shared between two, longing souls. A picture of passion, etched out on the rhythmic waves of desire. And with Hank, there was no passion. No desire. Only a crazed hunger in his eyes, whenever he looked at me. A crazed look that revolted me, rather than aroused me.

After helping me clean up, we strolled to meet the others, who were each engrossed in their own phones. Hank wasn't in amicability with any of my friends. He usually described them as snobs. They on the other hand tried to find a common ground with him for my sake.

"Hey Hank. Kenya isn't feeling too good. She's coming with," Andrea boldly said.

Hank raised his eyes from his phone, shifting to me.

A shadow crossed his face and I recognized it. He was upset. I inwardly faltered. My legs shaking. I was almost going against Andrea's words, when I felt a hand slip into mine.

A gentle squeeze and I instantly knew it was Andy, reassuring me. Telling me just for tonight, I needed to think of me. To take care of me. Then tomorrow, I would decide what I wanted.

Inhaling a shaky breath, I spoke.

"Yes Hank. I'm sorry but I have to take care of myself. I don't really feel too good."

He nodded without compassion.