Save You Tonight.

I ran as fast as I possibly could, my footsteps pounding on the concrete and my heart pounding in my chest.
I splashed through puddles of water, turning around every few seconds to ensure he wasn't following me.
As I ran, I couldn't help but think back to what happened.
My now ex-boyfriend, Jerome, and I had our one year anniversary today, and I had planned a surprise dinner for him. I had left work early and came home, but the house was strangely quiet. I went up to our bedroom, and there he was, on top of some other girl. I screamed at them both, and she ran out, still naked.
"How the fuck could you do this to me? On our anniversary? You know what, no, we're done Jerome, get out!" I screamed at him, pointing to the door.
He jumped up and grabbed me by my arms, shaking me back and forth. "You don't tell me shit, Kalani! Don't fucking talk to me that way," he yelled back, throwing me to the floor. He climbed on top of me and began to hit me, over and over. I tried to scream, but he only hit me harder.
I struggled with him for what felt like hours, but finally ended up pushing him off of me.
I jumped up and ran to the front door, swinging it open and running out of the apartment we shared.
I knew where I needed to go, I knew I would be safe at Mike's house.
Mike and I had been bestfriends ever since we were little, and he had always been somebody I could go to for anything.
I rounded the corner and turned onto the road Mike and his brother Vic lived on, and saw the white house in the distance. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw cars in the driveway, I knew that somebody was home.
I ran up the driveway and began to bang on the door, my heart finally slowing down. I pulled my thick, curly hair into a bun on top of my head and waited for someone to answer.

I stood there for what felt like hours until Vic swung the door open.
"Kalani, hey beautiful!" He said, smiling at me.
"Vic, I- I can't." I choked out, the tears welling in my eyes.
Vic's smile immediately fell when he took in my appearance and saw the tears that began to fall freely.
He pulled me into a hug and brought me inside, still holding me as we walked to the living room.
Tony and Jaime looked up, the smiles on their faces disappearing just like Vic's had when they saw me.
Vic sat me down on the couch and looked at me with sad eyes. "I'll call Mike and then I'm gonna get a washcloth to clean you up, okay?"
I nodded my head and looked at Jaime and Tony. Jaime opened his arms and I gladly fell into them, snuggling into his side.
"Did he hurt you Kalani?" Tony asked, taking my hand in his.
"Yeah, he did." I mumbled, the tears filling my eyes once again.
I felt Jaime tense up and Tony's face twisted into anger.
"I swear, I'll kill him. I really will." Jaime mumbled, and I squeezed him tight to let him know it was okay.

We sat in silence for a few moments, the adrenaline beginning to subside. I felt the pain starting to set in, and was thankful when Vic came back into the room. He sat down next to me with a wet cloth and gave me a small smile.
"Let me know if it hurts, okay? I have to get the um, blood off." He said.
I held my breath as he cleaned my face off, flinching with every wipe.

"Maybe you should just take a shower. I have some clothes you left here from the last time you slept over. Mike won't be here for at least fifteen minutes so you have time babe." Vic said, taking my hand and helping me up.
"Okay. Thank you guys for this, it means a lot." I said, smiling for the first time.
I walked up to the bathroom with Vic, and he handed me a pair of his grey sweats with one of my black tank tops. I went into the drawer I kept at the house and took out a pair of underwear and a sports bra and sighed, looking down at my hands.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay. We're all here for you, we all love you. I'll be downstairs waiting for you." He kissed my cheek before walking away, and I stepped into the bathroom.

I gasped when I saw myself in the mirror.
My face was bloody and bruised, as were my arms and my chest. My stomach and ribs were covered in cuts and bruises were beginning to form.
I turned on the shower water and stepped in, the tears falling once again when the water hit my injuries. I washed my hair and scrubbed my body, picking up one of the razors I'd left here to shave with.
I stared at the blade inside of it, it had been so long since I'd last cut myself and I knew the boys would be devastated if they found out, but I was hurting so bad. I peeled back the plastic and pulled the blade out, bringing it down to my thigh.
I began to slice until I felt relief, stopping when the blood was nearly gushing out.
I turned off the water and grabbed the only black towel and pressed it to the wounds, making sure they were dry. I grabbed the gauze Vic kept under the counter and placed it over my cuts and wrapped them up with medical tape., sighing to myself. I'd started something that I never wanted to.
I dried my hair as best I could with another towel and placed the towel and my old clothes in the dirty hamper, and pulled on my underwear and bra. I grabbed the sweats and tank top and put them on carefully, trying to avoid hitting any of my bruises.

I flicked off the light and started to walk towards the stairs when I heard the front door swing open and slam shut.

"Where's Kalani? Where the fuck is she?" Mike yelled, panic evident in his voice.

Notes