In Another Life

No strings attached (6)

"Was this just a smooth way of getting my number" I say jokingly, putting my number in his phone as Kelly laughs "it worked though"  he says jokingly back as I smile.

"Do you want another drink" Kelly asks grabbing my empty glass as he stands up and I nod "yes please, save again Thankyou" I say as he nods and walks over to the bar.

Whilst he's gone I take out my phone and see a text from Grant  "You're useless, do us all a favour and stay out in the cold, catch pneumonia or something, because I hope you both freeze to death, make my life easier" the first text read, I try my best to hold back my tears, how can he be so hateful, I scroll down to see another one.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean that, where are you? your normally crawling back to me by now?" This one read I ignore both the messages as I lock my phone and I wipe my eyes as I look at the wall hoping no one seen me get emotional.

Seconds later I hear Kelly place my drink on the table as I look at it then look at him and smile "Thankyou" I say, my voice breaking a little as Kelly sits down and looks at me sympathetically

"You okay, you look like you've been crying" Kelly says as he takes a swig of his beer. "I'll be fine don't worry about me" I say as I look down and play with the glass in my hands

"Come on, you can talk to me, no one's allowed to be sad around me" Kelly says brushing his fingers over my hand as I look at him, his eyes telling me that I could trust him.

"I'm not Okay" I say as I let the tears fall, he gets out of his seat and comes to sit next to me "hey come on, don't get upset, what's wrong" he says wrapping an arm round my shoulder and pulling me in for a side hug, he starts to rub my arm.

"I can't go back home, my husband...he is awful, I'm terrified of him" I say as I lift up and look at Kelly who looks at me confused "what do you mean, why are you terrified" he asks as I lift my sleeves up on my long sleeve T-shirt showing some new and old bruises, Kelly looks down and runs his hand over some of the bruises "did he do this" he asks me as I nod.

"He was never normally like this, he once was the most caring and loving husband, then one day something just flicked in him and he became someone I didn't recognise" I say as Kelly lifts my head up as he runs his hand on my neck lowering the neckline of my shirt where there was no doubtingly an old bruise from where he occasionally tried to choke me out.

"How did I not notice these before" Kelly says softly as he looks at me saddened

"I hide them well" I say as I pull my sleeves back down. "I'm not letting you go back there, you can stay with me in my apartment I have a spare room" Kelly says as I shake my head "no I can't possibly..." I say as Kelly shakes his head "It's not up for debate, you will be safe with me...wait" he says looking at me confused "is that why I found you in the elevator was you going to come to me" Kelly asks as I look down and nod "I didn't think, I just needed somewhere to go and I didn't have anyone or anywhere else to go to" I say as Kelly pulls me into another hug.

"We will finish these drinks then we will head home, do you need to grab anything from your apartment?" Kelly asks as I nod "o could do with getting her travel cot and the presents I bought her today and a change of clothes for us both" I say as Kelly nods "I'll be with you, he won't do anything whilst I'm there, and if he does try, I'll get to him first" Kelly says as I smile at him "thank you for this you really didn't have to do this" I say as he shrugs "I help and rescue people for a living, it's kinda my thing" Kelly says as I continue to smile at him.

...

We left the bar a few moments ago and are in Kelly's car pulling up to the apartments "I'm not going to let him hurt you" Kelly says grabbing my hands that have been twiddling around for the past 5 minutes.