The second wife

Narrator “No! Help me! Someone......anyone!” Hanna screamed as the perpetrator ran after her in the park. She shouldn’t have gotten out of her house at this hour. The man was definitely faster than her. He caught up with her and grabbed her arm, causing immense pain on her shoulder. He held her at chokehold as he whispered near her ear as he breathed hard. “Do you know for how long I have been waiting for this day? You are the sexiest woman I have ever seen. Watching you walk in the hospital makes me so hard princess.” “Help!!” she shouted again. Then he put one hand on her mouth, covering it and bruising her at the same time. “shshhh. Princess. We don’t want too many people to come and watch us...” his sinister chuckles made her shiver in fear. She felt his hand groping her. She begged and screamed but he didn’t stop. Then she froze. Just froze. As she was a silent spectator to what was happening to her body. Just then she felt the body that crushing her being lifted off her. She kept watching wordlessly as another person, her saviour, beat the perpetrator until finally, he ran away. Her saviour came to her and handed her his shirt. “s**t!” He cursed. She was in shock. The attacker didn’t succeed. But she was now completely silent. He must take her to the hospital as fast as he could. Zak pov. I am glad I decided to stroll late at night. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to save this girl. She was a stranger, but still, I couldn’t tolerate this kind of violence. I was just glad that he managed to help just in time. I took her to the nearest hospital which happened to have a lot of her friends in it. Perhaps she worked there. They ensured me that she was in good hands and thanked me for saving her. So I left her in the hospital and went on my way. Hanna pov. It is my third day in the hospital. I am feeling better now. I just wish my colleagues took my saviour's phone number. I should thank him personally. The hospital room door opened and Trisha, my best friend entered. She comes to give me company after her shift is over. “Hey, girl. How are you feeling?” Tisha beamed at me. “better. I think I will be discharged soon.” I told her. “yeah...” she looked at her shoes. “where will you go?” she asked. I shrugged. “Home? I guess.” She shook her head. “you know it won’t be safe with that stalker on the loose.” I gulped. What she just said reminded me of that night. My breathing laboured. That night I had gotten out of the apartment because I was feeling uneasy. This guy had started to stalk me and send inappropriate messages and pictures. At first, I ignored them, but he called me at my workplace, on the roads and even at home. He would tell me exactly what I was wearing and doing. He was watching me. Little did I know that he was waiting for me outside my house. Tisha quickly gave me a glass of water which I gulped down in one go. “I’m sorry Hanna. But you shouldn’t go there,” she said. She was right. But where do I stay? My parents live in another city. My brother is studying abroad. I know they would be heartbroken if they hear about this situation. So I chose not to tell them. At least not yet. “You have a visitor.” Mary, my colleague said cheerfully as she opened the door. Just then a man who seemed to be in his late thirties entered with a bouquet. “Hi. I’m Zak.” He said. “He is the guy who you have been looking for.” Mary chimed in. I knitted my eyebrows. “He brought you to the hospital,” Mary explained. My eyes widened. I wanted to jump off this bed and kiss his hands so many times for beating that devil. He rushed towards me and gestured me to calm down. “Hey. Hey. It’s ok. Please...don’t make sudden moves like that. You might hurt yourself.” He said. I managed to smile. “Thank you so much. You most probably saved my life.” I said. “how can I repay you?” He chuckled. “just be careful and don't go out alone ok?” He said. I smiled “I’m Hanna”. I introduced myself and extended my hand. He took it in a handshake. “Actually, I’m here because this was stuck on my shirt. I noticed it later on. So I am here to return it.” He said as he handed me my necklace. “Thank you so much. I really want to be your friend. Please take my number. And give me yours.” I said. This is the first time I am exchanging numbers with a stranger. But I wouldn’t mind doing it with him. He had just saved my life. Just then the doctor came to check on me. “You are better now. You may go home if you want to.” She smiled reassuringly and walked outside. “He might be watching me,” I said as fear invaded my heart. “How do I leave this place without him knowing?” “Who?” Zak asked. But soon his eyes widened with realisation. “oh I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” “no, it is ok. I consider you my friend.” I smiled at him. “Let's go to my place first. I think we have to mislead him. Perhaps we can help you rent a new place.” Trisha said. I bit my lips. My life has gotten so hard to live all of a sudden. Zak pov. She was being stalked. We should complain to the police. Perhaps then whoever that is would back off. We took her to her friend's house first. I managed to convince her to complain first thing in the morning. I would personally make sure she does. The next morning I drove off to Tisha's place to fetch Hanna. I knew she will be still having issues of mental health after that incident, so she will be needing all the help she could get. So I took her out and had breakfast with her before going to the nearest police station. When we finished with it, it was almost noon. I took her to watch a movie, a comedy to be exact. We had a great time. I was happy that I could bring some happiness to this broken girl. I enjoyed spending time with her. I found out that was a very fun girl to be with. I dropped her back at her friend's place and drove off home. I had taken leave from my work that day so that I can spend more time with her. I just felt that I should lend any help I could. That night, I couldn’t sleep. Memories of the day kept coming back to me. I couldn’t get my mind off her. I just loved how her eyes twinkled when she smiled. I thought the sound of her bubbly laughter was the most beautiful sound I ever heard. “aaargh,” I buried my face in the pillow frustrated. Why is this happening to me? This shouldn’t be happening. I looked at my phone. Should I text her? I lied on my bed just staring and arguing with myself. My heart says that I should text. But my brain says otherwise. Why does helping a beautiful girl like Hanna be so hard? Hanna pov. He really is the sweetest guy I have ever met. We had a great time. He tried his best to make me laugh. It almost felt like a date. I smiled at that thought. I wouldn’t mind dating a guy like him. He is older, perhaps about fifteen years older than me, but I wouldn’t mind. As long as he would want to. I sighed. Most probably, he already has a lover. I tossed and turned on my bed. Memories of our day spent together kept me awake. A smile formed on my face involuntarily. Just then a ding of my phone caught my attention. It was a text from him. Hey. Sleeping? It said. I smiled as I texted back. Sleep seemed to have left me. My heart was swelling with emotions as we texted back and forth. I didn’t realise how the time flew by. We ended up staying awake the whole night. It was almost dawn when we forced ourselves to stop and keep our phones. But only after agreeing to see each other again the other night. I smiled as I fell into a deep slumber.