Handle Him With Kid Gloves

Chapter 6

At 12pm, I get a call from a restricted number. I do not answer. So the caller leaves a voicemail.

 "Hi Diana, this is Molly from Victims Connect. I just wanted to follow up and make sure you're safe. Please give me a call back whenever it's safe to do so. Take care!" 

I sigh after playing the voicemail. It's been a few months since the incident. I look around, feeling ashamed to be back at my parents house. On top of that, they have no clue why I came back in the first place. They're just glad to have me.

I pick up the remote as I begin to scroll through Netflix. A vampire movie catches my attention, but a jump scare within the trailer quickly changes my mind. A love story seems promising, but then I'm reminded of a wound that's still too fresh. Finally, I settle on an action film.

The plot reads "A girl conquers her greatest fears with the help of a supernatural friend." It seems promising, I press play as I lounge deeper into my bed. The intro is fascinating. A young girl seems to live a painfully mundane life. Nothing seems fascinating about her. Until a figure, that looks similar to the old man I met the other day, surfaces. There are so many similarities, it's uncanny. I inch closer towards the screen trying to get a better look, when the power suddenly goes off. 

 "Great!"

 I reach for my phone in attempt to turn the flashlight on before making my way to the boiler room. I hear what sounds like a raccoon rummaging through trash. My breathing begins to grow heavier as I grasp on to my phone more eagerly. I look around for signs of life, nothing.

 I continue to make my way through the house when I feel a hand grab my shoulder. I scream and use my arm to create distance. I position the flashlight in the direction of the hand only to find my ex partner standing in my garage. 

 Ethan what are you doing here? He looks disheveled. His eyes are bloodshot red. "You know, I called you over 40 times! No answer. What, you running from me now?"

"How did you even get into my garage? Let alone find my address?" 

 "My lawyer helped me out after you tried to place that stupid f*****g stay away order over my head. How could you do this? I thought we loved each other?" 

I look to the side with shame, before anger begins to consume me.

"So what did your lawyer think would happen by giving you my address? We would kiss and makeup?"

 "It doesn't have to be a fairy tale ending if you don't want it to be. But at least drop the charges." I cross my arms defensively. 

 "Look, baby I'm sorry. I was drunk."

"Like you are now?" He balls his fist and begins to bite on his cheek before recollecting himself. 

You know I'm f*****g crazy about it. You don't believe me? Let me dial Nicole up."

"No, you don't have to!" The phone begins to ring.

Nicole answers abruptly. "Hello" 

"Yeah Nicole, I'm here with Diana. She's tripping man. She seems serious about pressing charges."

 "Put her on the phone." 

I do my best to avoid the interaction. "Look, Ethan I'm good on all that." 

"Just talk to her for a second. Please! Or you guys ain't cool no more either?" He's always been good at pulling the guilt out of me. 

 I sigh before grabbing the phone. "Hello?"

 "Girl! What happened to you? I been calling you, worried sick! We've all been looking for you." 

 "I took some space."

 "Space, for what?!"

 "Do you really wanna go there, right now?" I glance at Ethan to gauge his state. He is wobbling and barely keeping balance. 

 "I mean, what happened? I thought I was your girl. You know you can tell me anything."

"He hit me. That's what happened Nicole. He hit me." It's silent for a moment. Tension fills the air. 

Nicole suddenly responds. "Well, you know how crazy he is about you. He just really loves you. You know, like that old school s**t."

 I scratch my arm, doing my best to remain present.

 "You're just gonna give up like that after all y'all have been through? You know how many girls would die for him?" 

 I struggle to respond. Ethan is growing impatient.

"Girl, I used to be so jealous of your relationship. My man doesn't even look at me that way!"

"Used to be. But not anymore? Right?"

"It's not even like that!" 

"Look, I have to go Nicole." 

"Okay, but at least thing about what I said. And call me!" 

 I disconnect the call before handing the phone back to Ethan. His arms are now crossed too. We sit in an uncomfortable silence. Only a few feet away, but feeling like worlds away from each other. 

I study him and try to remember which aspect of him I initially fell in love with. He uncrosses his arms before clasping his hands behind his head and looking to the ceiling. 

"Look, I fucked up. I know it, okay? But I really love you." His voice cracks.

He's being sincere. I haven't seen this side of him in along time my heart begins to ache. But violent flashbacks infiltrate my mind. I shake my head in disbelief. It's the only response I can muster up.

"So we're really done?" 

 Before I can answer, I hear a whisper in the back of my head. "Wear kid gloves with him."

I stutter before making out the words. "I think space would be really healthy for the time being." 

 "Okay, and how long do you need this 'space.'"

The voice appears again. "Reassure him."

"I just need a few days to get my mind right. I've given you space, now I need a sec too." 

 "Then we can talk?"

 "Yes, then we can have a proper conversation." 

 He clasps his hands behind his head once more before desperately looking up at the ceiling again. 

 "Baby, I'm sorry. I love you." 

I stand before him silently. He continues for a bit more before eventually rolling his eyes and agreeing to call it quits. 

"Fine. 3 days. After that, we're gonna have that talk." He sees his way out. 

 Suddenly, the anxiety I've been repressing catches up to me. I hold my chest, as if the pain were somehow physical. I hear the voice one last time. "Very good, it is done."