Erol

Erol

by D.C. Smith

Copyright © 2014 by D.C. Smith

Smashwords Edition

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter 1

Delilah stirred, consciousness returning to her. She struggled to open her swollen eyes, the bright sunshine hurting them even more. She looked down at her body, curled up in a fetal position on the hard floor. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled against the pain of breathing. Her hand gently ran across her right rib. God, just take me away. I cannot endure living like this. Please! She slowly moved her body to an upright position, fighting all the while not to pass out from the pain. He’s still here, Delilah thought as she heard the bathroom door open. Finish me off, Kurt.

Good morning, honey. You know I really shouldn’t say that since you never came to bed last night, Kurt said as he kicked his boot against Delilah’s thigh. You might want to clean yourself up. You don’t look so pretty, he laughed as he walked out the front door. She waited until she heard the sound of his car disappearing before she forced herself to stand up.

He’s getting careless. He used to always hit me where it wouldn’t show, Delilah thought as she looked in the mirror. She turned on the water to wash her face, wiping off the dried blood on her lips and down her neck. Bits of dried blood coated her long, blond hair. The cold washcloth felt good on her swollen right eyelid. She brushed her teeth and went to the bedroom to find clean clothes. She turned on the shower. The pain of scrubbing her body and shampooing her hair didn’t matter; the thought of his hands on her made her scrub even harder. She gently dried herself off and wrapped a large elastic bandage around her rib cage, which helped a little. It hurt a lot to try to comb her hair since it was so long and hung down to just above her waist. She noticed a lot of hair in her brush. He must have pulled it. I don’t remember. Funny how the mind makes you pass out when beaten so… Delilah leaned closer to the mirror and stared at her neck. Fingerprint bruises. God, he was choking me, that’s why I passed out! She finished dressing and put some lip butter on her cracked lips.

She walked around straightening up the place. Small dots of blood were on the wall in the living room. She filled a bucket with warm, soapy water and did her best to wash it off. The doorbell rang as she was putting in a load of laundry. She peeked through the drapes; it was Tina. The only friend that Kurt didn’t know she had. Actually, her only friend left.

Hi, Tina. I’d let you in but I’m really feeling sick today. I don’t want to pass whatever it is that I have on to you, Delilah said as she only opened the door a crack so her friend couldn’t see her face.

I’m sorry to hear that. Hey, I just wanted to drop off this bag of tomatoes from my friend’s garden. She gave me so many this year and I can’t possibly eat all of them.

Delilah felt panicked. I can’t let her see me!

Delilah?

Delilah put her hand out the door as she kept her face hidden. Tina felt something was not right. She waited, not passing the bag.

Oh come on, Delilah. Am I so ugly you can’t look at me?

I’m sick.

So. Just give me a smile.

Silence. Tina pushed against the door when she saw Delilah’s hand go back in and the door start to close. She forced her way in. Delilah quickly turned to face the wall.

Please go.

What’s wrong? I don’t think you’re sick, Tina said as she closed the front door and put down the bag. Turn around.

Silence.

Turn around, Tina repeated firmly as she gently placed her hand on Delilah’s shoulder.

I…I hurt myself. Lost my balance while running down the stairs. Slammed my face on the banister. Stupid me.

Let me see.

Delilah turned around. She kept her eyes downward, not daring to look at the expression on her friend’s face.

Tina gasped as she held her hand to her mouth. Oh my God! There is no way in hell that happened just by falling down stairs. You’ve been beaten!

No…really…I

Stop it, Delilah! Stop defending him!

He didn’t mean it. It was my fault.

What? Your fault? Did you try to kill him first? Come. Let’s go sit down on the couch and talk, Tina said as she put her hand on Delilah’s waist to steer her. Is that a bandage I feel around your ribs?

Tina watched as Delilah winced holding on to her right ribs while sitting down.

Did he punch you in the ribs too?

My fault, Tina.

What happened?

Delilah closed her eyes, memories coming back to her.

I shouldn’t have answered that guy. I should have just walked away.

You’re not making any sense. What guy? Kurt?

No, not Kurt. We went to the mall. I was looking at some shoes while he went to go look for something. Some guy came up behind me and told me he just wanted to tell me that I had the most beautiful hair he had ever seen. I thanked him. The guy started saying something else to me and that’s when I noticed Kurt watching. He came up to me and grabbed my elbow and pushed me out to the car and brought me home.

Is that when he beat you?

He just wanted to get a point across to me. I shouldn’t be talking to strangers.

God! He has you thinking that way? That is not normal, Delilah. That is no reason to beat a person. Would you beat him up if he was talking to some girl?

No.

Is this the first time he’s done this to you?

Silence.

Okay, I take it it’s not. Why don’t you leave him? Do you love him?

Tears slid down Delilah’s cheeks. Tina scooted closer to her and put her arms around her shoulder.

You need to leave before there comes a time when he kills you. It looks like he came close to it already.

I can’t. I have nowhere to go, no money, no job, no car, nothing.

I’ll help you.

I’m afraid. I wish he had killed me. I even prayed he would just do it, get it over with.

You’re coming with me. Where is he now?

At work.

Let’s get you packed.

He’ll find me. He told me if I ever left him, he’d hunt me down, Delilah whispered.

He won’t. I have never met him. Does he know about our friendship?

No. I never told him. He doesn’t want me having friends. Said I don’t need them, just him.

Tina stood up. We won’t take with all your stuff. You leave a note saying you went for a walk.

He won’t believe that. He knows what my face looks like.

Doesn’t matter. You’ll be far away by that time.

They had just two bagfuls to take with when they were done. Delilah left the note on the kitchen counter. Tina picked up the bag of tomatoes as they walked out the front door and got in her car. Look in the glove compartment. There’s a pair of sunglasses in there. Put them on.

Tina drove to the other side of town and parked in the back of a large red-bricked, three-story building. I just have to make a couple of phone calls and get your stuff packed in a carry-on suitcase, Tina said as she grabbed Delilah’s bags. They got out of the car and walked up to the third floor to Tina’s apartment.

Delilah sat at the kitchen table. I’m scared, Lord. I don’t know what I should do.

Delilah? Tina said as she tapped her on her arm.

Sorry, I was just in deep thought.

Everything’s set for you. I’ve bought you a plane ticket. I’m giving you some money. You’ll be staying at a safe house for abused women. A good friend of mine, Susan, runs it. She’ll be picking you up at the airport. I gave her a description of you. She’ll provide you with food, shelter, and help you find a job. She is a wonderful person.

Delilah nodded.

Tina patted Delilah’s hand. Delilah looked at Tina. She had tears forming in her eyes. I know what I’m talking about. Susan helped me. I never told you but I was in the exact same situation ten years ago, except I was married. Thank God you didn’t marry him.

Thank you for telling me that.

I know all the signs of abuse since I was once a victim. You couldn’t fool me by telling me that I could only call or come over during certain times and never on weekends. The long sleeves and pants you wore even on the hottest days. The limping from what you called ‘being clumsy.’ I should have confronted you sooner, Tina sighed and shook her head. You’re not alone. I’m just glad I’m here to help you. Must have been your guardian angel that nudged you to take on a secret friend.

Delilah smiled. Yeah, you’re probably right.

Well, you’ll be in another state by the time Kurt gets home from work. Does that make you feel safer?

Yes, definitely.

We have some time before I take you to the airport. Sit on the couch while I get a suitcase to pack your clothes in, Tina said as she carried Delilah’s bags and laid them on the table in front of the couch.

Tina wasted no time helping pack and get out the door to drive to the airport. She looked over at Delilah when they arrived. Silent tears ran down her closed eyes and formed a puddle under her glasses. Delilah, Tina whispered as she gently touched her arm, We’re at the airport now. Delilah nodded as Tina passed her a tissue.

I’m going to stay with you until you board the plane.

What if he checks the airlines and knows I got on a plane?

Impossible. I bought your e-ticket online with my credit card and printed out your boarding pass from the Internet, so we don’t even have to go to the ticket counter, Tina said as she rummaged through her purse. Here’s your boarding pass. I’ll call Susan when I know you should be there and talk to you. Tina helped Delilah stand up and pulled her close and kissed her cheek. I’d give you a huge hug but I can’t with your ribs like that.

Delilah smiled. I love you, Tina. I just wish you lived close by where I’m going.

You’ll make lots of friends. I’ll talk to you everyday. If ever you need to talk to me, you can use the phone over there. Okay, your plane is boarding now, Tina said as she walked Delilah as far as was permitted. Love ya.

Chapter 2

Delilah? A short, petite, pretty woman with medium length brown hair smiled at her.

Are you Susan? Delilah replied nervously.

Yes. I’m pleased to meet you, Susan held out her hand as Delilah lightly shook it.

Pleased to meet you, too.

Let’s get out of this airport and get you settled. You’ve obviously been through a lot. Susan watched as Delilah’s face and body tensed while looking at the people passing by.

I’ll hunt you down. Try to leave. I’ll hunt you down, bitch! The words played over and over in Delilah’s mind as she walked with Susan to her car.

Susan glanced over at Delilah as she drove. She was gazing out the side window, her hands tightly clenched in her lap.

Delilah?

Delilah turned to look at Susan.

I know you’re afraid right now, but believe me, things will work out for you. I will help you. Right now there is another woman who was in an abusive relationship that is living at the house. Her name is Vicky. She is doing well. She started working and her self-esteem is coming back. Her story is basically the same, just like the majority who have come to stay at the house. Please feel free to ask any questions or concerns you might have, okay?

Delilah nodded. I will. Thank you.

Susan turned down a quiet side street and pulled the car into a detached garage next to a cute, two-story Cape Cod style, brown-bricked house. The front windows were outlined in white field stone bricks. Delilah liked it; it had a welcoming, peaceful feeling to it.

She followed Susan out the side garage door that led into the small fenced yard. She could hear a dog barking in the house.

That’s Draco, our dog. I got him from the local shelter, a mixed breed. He’s friendly but will take no shit, probably would even draw blood from anyone he sees trying to hurt someone, Susan said as she bent down to pet Draco’s head.

Delilah laughed. Draco, the name is kind of like Dracula. Aw, he’s cute. I like all the colors going through his fur, Delilah said as Draco came by her, wagging his tail. He’s got stripes going down his face, like a tiger. She chuckled as she petted his head. I always wanted a dog, but Kurt didn’t like dogs.

Well, you know that saying, ‘You can tell the character of a man by the way he treats his dog.’ That’s so true. If you did have a dog, the dog would defend you. I think Kurt knew that and couldn’t have any of that going on.

Susan gave Delilah a tour of the house.

We take turns cooking meals for each other in the kitchen. All chores are shared. You have phone privileges, I’ve got a great plan with unlimited minutes, so no worry, Susan laughed. Laundry room is right off the kitchen area. There are two bathrooms upstairs, one with a tub and the other one with a walk-in shower, and a powder room downstairs. This will be your private bedroom.

Wow, that is a nice sized room. Almost like a mini apartment.

Yes, Susan smiled. You’ve got a writing area, which the desk is stocked already and a small lounging area with your own TV. Oh and best of all, a walk-in closet. Come and take a look.

Oooooh, that’s big!

It’ll store a lot of things that you may want to buy when you start working.

This is nice, real nice. The house is adorable. I love all the hardwood floors throughout.

It was built back in the late 1940’s and was very solidly constructed. I had a blast updating it.

You did a fantastic job, Susan. I love it.

Thank you. Well, why don’t you get yourself settled in. If you want you can join me in the kitchen. It’s my turn to cook. Vicky is at work right now. She’ll be home around dinnertime.

Sounds good. I can help you cook.

Susan walked over to Delilah and gave her a light hug. I think we’re going to be good friends. You’ll like Vicky, too. We’ll have fun together.

Delilah opened her suitcase and in no time at all, she was done putting away her things. She walked over to the desk and slowly eased herself down on to the soft computer chair. She opened a notebook and took out a pen. I can’t wait to find a job. I’m going to keep a list of everything that was given to me, the money, plane ticket, things I’ve used here, anything I can think of. I have to think of all of it as a loan, that is the only way I’m going to accept doing this, she thought as she wrote the date and anything she could think of that was given to her already. She finished and laid her head down on top of her folded arms on the desk. I’m scared. What if I can’t find work? How am I going to get to work? I’m putting my future in the hands of Susan. She doesn’t know me. What if she changes her mind about me? Kurt said I was such a bitch. What if he is really sorry about what he did to me? Maybe I should have tried harder to please Kurt, after all he did take care of me. STOP IT! Delilah jerked when she heard a male’s voice say it clear as day by her ear. She lifted her head and looked around. No one was there. I heard that. It was like whoever said that shouted in my ear. She felt a hand slip into hers as the feeling of warmth and love surged through her. Tears slid down her cheek. She grabbed a tissue. I’m losing it. I need to pull myself together. Not think ahead. Just take it one day at a time. I should go down and talk to Susan. Keep my mind off of fear.

Smells delicious, Delilah said as she watched Susan cook. What can I do to help?

Susan turned around and smiled. I’ve got it. Just sit down and relax. You can pet Draco if you want. I see he’s interested in you, wagging his tail as he eyes you.

No problem, Delilah said as she pulled out a chair. Susan noticed Delilah wince, her hand holding her right rib area as she started to sit down. She quickly walked over to her.

"Delilah, wait!