Gage

Chapter 2

Wren

God the nerve of that man. That entirely gorgeous and too good looking for his own good man. The lesson ended hours ago, so why am I still stuck on how he treated me and doubted me? God, the way he spoke to me, he f*****g hated me. But if you're honest with yourself, you hate yourself, too. It wouldn't shock me if the rest of this damned town felt the same way. Thought that I abandoned them when that is the furthest from the truth.

I tried so hard to come back. I tried so hard to escape only to be thwarted in my attempt or caught at the airport or bus stop. I'd get so close to coming home only to be yanked back into the vicious cycle. My most recent attempt left bruises that I'm not sure will ever heal. MY heart, if there is even one left, is so damaged and it's all because of that man. No, he's not even a man. He's a f*****g monster.

I still struggle with the fact that I let myself get so wrapped up in one person that I let him change me. Let him tear me away from my family, from my friends, from the ones I love. I have no one now. I lost so much all because of my fear and the love that I held out hoping that he could change.

I hate myself for staying away, but if they saw the woman he turned me into, they would be so ashamed of me. Maybe that's part of the reason I never came back. I didn't want them to see me at the lowest I had fallen. I didn't want them to see me at rock bottom.

I looked at my arms that still looked a bit too skinny, I lifted the ends of my hair that was as dark as onyx and as shiny as a diamond. I left it natural today.

For the first time in 5 years I didn't have a lick of makeup on, I didn't have my hair styled. I was wearing freaking denim and a tank top. God, it felt so good to wear jeans again. And my feet weren't screaming at me for wearing heels every minute of every day of my life. They nearly cried tears of sweat through my pores at the sight of my old cowboy boots.

I lifted the stainless steel tumbler that I found in the cabinet and drank the sweetest tea I have had in years. The sugary liquid lit my tongue's taste buds up like the Fourth of July. I looked at my reflection in the metal. The woman staring back at me is unrecognizable. I'm still me, but I'm not at the same time. God, I miss the girl I used to be.

I raised my eyes and looked around in the kitchen at the pictures my momma had hanging everywhere. Of me in high school, me and my brother, me and my dad, of all of us. The memories caused tears to pool in my eyes.

The back door swung open and slammed up against the wall. I couldn't stop the automatic reaction. The recoil was trained in my body. My body stiffened and I raised my shoulders to protect my neck and had to fight my inner instincts to raise my hands and protect my head.

I felt my pulse starting to race and sweat beading on my forehead. There were slow and light steps sounding on the wooden floor of the kitchen until I felt a hand gently placed on my shoulder.

“You did good today munchkin.” Anderson's soft voice flowed through the air and I felt myself relaxing.

I hadn't spoken a word to him about what happened in New York, but he wasn't dumb by any means. Neither were my parents, but I still never said anything to them and they never questioned me. I'm sure the reaction I just had wasn't doing me any favors. I needed to get better about sudden movements, about raised voices. I needed to retrain myself to function like a normal adult.

“Oh god, I haven't been called that since I was what? 10?” I called back and he chuckled. I turned around and gave him a hug. “Thank you for standing up for me today Andy.”

He shook his head. “You didn't need me. The smile on little Marley's face did all the work. You were wonderful with her. A natural.”

“But still, how am I going to handle all of this? I can't run this place by myself! Do I know horses? Yeah, do I know how to run a farm or a successful business? No.”

He took my face in between his hands, effectively stopping my ranting. “I have no doubt you will figure it out. I will be here every step of the way. You can do this. We can hire help. The storefront is already covered. However, we need to find someone to handle what your mom did. We can find someone to help you with the lessons and with the admin side of things. She did all the stitching and sewing of the fur. She made all the soap and the candles. She did everything in that aspect. Tell you what, why don't we set up a job fair? Host interviews and find someone who needs the experience. The animals are taken care of. We have the community service program as well as the ex-felon program your dad started. Those guys are good men despite their records and they work hard and care about the farm. They answer to you now. We all do. You can do this, Wren. This place was always going to be yours. Your parents had faith in you. If they didn't, they wouldn't have left everything to you in their will. You have helped and you have support, baby girl. You just have to open your eyes.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes on my arm and nodded my head. “Okay, I can do this. I also heard Marley asking about her after school, if she was still allowed to come?”

His eyes softened at the mention of the cute little girl. “Yeah, her dad is a police officer and he needs help from time to time. Marley had a bond with your mom. She would come here after school while her dad was working and your mom would help her with her homework, let her help around the farm, let her work in the shop with the furs and crafts.”

I nodded, taking in all the information I could. She was a cute kid. Her dad was easy on the eyes but he was a total douche, but she was a sweetheart.

“Poor thing hasnt had it easy either. Not after, her momma passed away.” My hand immediately went to my mouth in shock and i hate to say it but pity. Such a young age to lose her mom.

“What happened?” I asked and he shook his head.

“Not my story to tell. But give the man a break. He's a good man even though he can be a bit of a dick.”

“Anderson, I dont think ive ever heard you curse around me. Am I in the twilight zone?”

He laughed and flicked my nose and walked away. “You did good today Wren. I'm glad you're back munchkin” he threw over his shoulder and continued out the door after grabbing a leftover sandwich from the fridge.

My new phone glistened in my hands. I had gotten a new phone, new number and had only one contact in it. Anderson. That was all I needed.

My old phone burned a hole on the coffee table in front of me. It vibrated repeatedly and I wasn't sure why I hadn't turned it off. I knew who was blowing it up. I knew who was calling nonstop and sending message after message. I had long since turned the GPS on it off but I left it on. I guess as a reminder for myself to never get comfortable. It could also be a way to remind myself of the fact that I don't belong here. I don't deserve to be happy. I don't deserve everyone's pitying glances or the kindness I've been shown since coming back.

Call me a masochist, tell me I like hurting myself, because I don't know why but I pick up the phone anyways. The one with the shattered screen from years of mistreatment. I don't look at the endless new text messages. I only look at the most recent few.

“You can run, you can hide Wren but I will find you. I suggest you come home now and your punishment won't be as severe. Don't be a stupid b***h. Come home NOW!”

“I swear to god you stupid b***h, you better get your ass back here NOW!”

“If I have to come after you I swear to god Im going to f*****g kill you!”

“I'm sorry baby. I love you. I just can't live without you. Please come home.”

“GOD DAMMIT WREN. YOU JUST WAIT. WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET EVER RUNNING AGAIN!”

I threw the phone back on the table and swallowed the vomit that threatened to creep up my throat. I brought my knees to my chest and cried.

He was going to find me. I just knew it.