I woke up the next morning in Rob’s arms but they didn’t feel safe to me anymore. My eyes were almost cemented shut from the tears that had fallen from them the night before. I climbed out of my loft, careful not to wake Rob up. I stumbled out into the hallway and into the bathroom.
'Maybe it was just a dream. A really horrible dream.'
But I knew in my heart that it was real. I glanced around the bathroom and didn’t see anyone. I made my way over the mirror and looked back at myself in horror. What I saw only made the tears start falling again. My left cheek was slightly bruised and my lip was little fat. I lifted up my tee shirt and exposed my ribs. There was a large black and blue bruise on my left side. Suddenly, the door creaked open. I dropped my shirt at the sound. Ashley sounded very cheerful for early on a Saturday morning:
“Morning Kate!” I answered her not once lifting my head:
“Hey..” She walked over to me:
“Oh my god!” I looked up:
“Don’t even ask.”
“What the hell happened? You look like you got the shit kicked out of you.” I looked back to the mirror:
“It’s not that bad.” Ashley looked at me, clearly concerned:
“But Kate, what happened?”
“I was really drunk last night and I fell off my ladder and banged my face on one of the steps.” Ashley laughed, but seemed to believe this lie:
“You’re such an idiot. “ I managed to muster a giggle:
“Thanks. I’m going back to bed.” And with that, I walked back to my room. Rob had woken up and was quickly getting dressed:
“Good morning baby!” He approached me and gently kissed my lips:
“God Kate, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. It’ll never happen again. I’m so sorry! Please forgive me. I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you.” I glanced up, tears glistening in my eyes. I wanted to believe him but something inside me was deeply untrue. I just didn’t feel safe around him anymore.
“Kate?” He stared at me, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. I stared back:
“Promise me it’ll never happen again.” Rob grabbed my hands:
“I promise, baby. I love you.” And with that he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. I bit my lip from the pain in my ribs but I was careful not to let Rob notice. He finally let go of me:
“I’ve gotta get back. Will you walk me out?” I nodded as he grabbed his stuff. I followed him out into the hallway. Ashley was walking out of her room at the same exact time:
“Hey Rob! I didn’t know you were here.” Rob smiled:
“Yeah. I surprised Kate late last night.” I put on a weak smile:
“Yeah but he’s got to get going now.” Rob and Ashley waved goodbye to each other and the two of us walked outside to his car. He kissed my goodbye and he rubbed my bare arms:
“I love you so much.” Then he got in his car and was gone.
I walked back over to the door and sat down on the steps. I lit up a cigarette but I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I just started sobbing right then and there. Ashley, who had looked out her window and saw me, came running down the stairs and outside. She sat down next to me and put her arms around me. I cried into her shoulder for a good five minutes, not saying a word. Finally, she had to say something:
“Katelin, I’m going to ask you this one time and you can lie to me if you want to but I know what’s really going on here. Are those bruises really from your ladder or did Rob do this to you?” I didn’t say anything. Just cried louder. I didn’t have to say a word. Ashley knew what the answer was. Finally, I stopped crying and looked up at her:
“Please don’t say anything. Especially to Drew.” She nodded:
“I promise. But Kate, you have to do something.” I shook my head:
“He apologized to me and said that it would never happen again. I believe him, Ash—“ I was cut off by Brooke:
“Who said what wouldn’t happen again?” Ashley and I looked up startled. Brooke’s gasped when she saw my face:
“Oh my god! Katelin, what happened?” The tears started to well up in my eyes again. Ashley answered for me:
“It’s a long story but Rob showed up last night.” Brooke looked at me, horrified:
“He did this to you? Why?!” I shook my head:
“I don’t want to talk about it.” And with that, I jumped up and ran inside.