It was a dark and cloudy night in New York. A young girl who was probably twenty-five or twenty-six walked down the street. Her clothes were covered in dirt and water and her hair was knotted within itself. The young woman was walking to find a place to stay for the night. She didn't have a home. Her family abandoned her when she was a teenager. The woman's name was Gabriella. Gabriella walked down an alley and sat down by the wall. She took off her bag that carried everything she owned. Gabriella put the bag down on the ground and took out a little blanket and covered herself with it. This was not a life that a twenty-five year old woman should live. Gabriella heard noises coming from the alley and then saw a light. She tried to see who was coming her way. Gabriella then saw two men, who looked about thirty coming closer to her. She tried to run but the men caught her and pushed her against the alley wall. One of the men put a knife to her neck.
"Who do you work for?" the man asked.
Gabriella just shook her head. When Gabriella didn't answer, the man pushed the knife deeper against her neck. Gabriella cried in pain.
"I don't work for anyone" Gabriella said quietly.
The man took Gabriella behind a close by building and raped her. After the men were finished, they left Gabriella on the ground, helpless. Gabriella was not a prostitute, if that's what you are thinking. She couldn't even understand what it was. Gabriella heard a siren go off and stopped what she was doing. She heard a police officer start talking on the loud speaker.
"Put your hands where I can see them" the officer said.
Gabriella did as she was told. An officer walked over to her and escorted her to the squad car and helped her get into the car. The officer closed the door and walked to the driver's side and got in. Gabriella looked at the officer and got a better look at what he looked like.
"I'm good" Gabriella whispered.
"Ma'am we are going to take you to the station" the officer said.
"No, please" Gabriella pleaded.
"Do you have somewhere to stay?" the officer asked.
"No but I can-"Gabriella stopped.
"You are coming to the station" the officer said.
"My sister's house is a couple streets over. I will walk there" Gabriella lied.
"Alright, are you sure it's a couple streets over?" the officer asked.
"Yes, I swear" Gabriella said.
"Alright, off you go then" the officer said as he walked back to the car.
Gabriella started running and she stopped when she found a market. She walked in the market and looked around. Gabriella didn't have any money but she was used to sneaking things out of stores. She walked down the ready to eat aisle and picked up a sandwich. Gabriella then walked over to the exit of the market and heard the alarm go off, meaning that something was stolen.
"Ma'am, can I check your bag?" the store clerk asked.
"I'm sorry" Gabriella cried.
"Hey!" a guy yelled.
Gabriella and the sale associate looked up.
"She's with me" the man said.
Gabriella's heart started racing. The man came closer to her and took the sandwich out of Gabriella's hand. He gave it to the cashier and paid for it. The man then walked over to Gabriella and handed her the sandwich.
"Thank you" Gabriella said gratefully.
The man smiled.
"You are welcome. I'm Troy, what's your name?" Troy asked.
"Gabriella" Gabriella choked out.
"Nice to meet you Gabriella. Do you need a ride home?" Troy asked.
Gabriella was silent. Troy put his arm around Gabriella and they walked out of the market. Troy took Gabriella to his truck and helped her get in. Troy then walked over to the driver's side and got in.
"Where do you live?" Troy asked.
"No where. I'm homeless" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella.
"Do you have any relatives that live around here?" Troy asked.
"No" Gabriella said.
"Well then you will come to my house and we will figure out where you can stay" Troy said.
"Oh I can't. I mean, you don't need to feel sorry for me, Troy" Gabriella said.
"I insist" Troy said as he looked at Gabriella.
Gabriella nodded slightly and Troy smiled. Troy drove to his home and parked his car in the driveway. Gabriella and Troy got out of the car. Gabriella followed Troy to the front door. Troy unlocked the front door and the two adults walked into the house.
"I will show you to the guest room where you can put your things down" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy and Gabriella walked to the guest room.
"Here is where you will be staying. I am going to make some dinner. Do you like pasta?" Troy asked.
"Yes, but Troy if I may ask, why are you helping me?" Gabriella asked.
"I am helping you because I know you need help" Troy said as he touched Gabriella's hand.
Gabriella flinched and pulled her hand away from Troy's.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have" Troy said as he pulled his hand away.
Gabriella was silent.
"Let's go to the kitchen" Troy said.
Gabriella and Troy walked to the kitchen. Gabriella's eyes grew when she saw Troy's huge kitchen.
"Wow" Gabriella whispered.
Troy smiled.
"My dad and I designed the kitchen" Troy said as he took the pasta out of the grocery bag.
Troy then took a pot out and filled it with water. He then opened the pasta package and put the pasta into the boiling water. Troy then took out a jar of tomato sauce. He poured the sauce into a separate pot and stirred it. A few minutes later, Troy took the boiling pasta and put it into a strainer. He then scooped a fair amount onto two plates and put the hot tomato sauce on top. Troy opened a drawer and picked out two forks and walked to the dining room table. Gabriella followed him. Troy set the two plates down and sat down. Gabriella sat down where the second plate of food was. Troy looked at Gabriella and smiled.
"I hope you like spaghetti" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. The two adults started eating.
"So Gabriella, tell me about yourself" Troy said.
Gabriella looked up from her food.
"What?" Gabriella asked.
"What do you do?" Troy asked.
"I don't do anything" Gabriella said.
"Do you have any family that can help you?" Troy asked.
"My parents died when I was very young. I have no place to go" Gabriella said.
Troy looked down and sighed.
"I'm so sorry" Troy said.
Gabriella shrugged.
"How long have you been living on the streets for?" Troy asked carefully.
"Since I was sixteen" Gabriella said.
"Nobody has tried to help you?" Troy asked.
"No, all anybody wants from me is sex" Gabriella said.
Troy's heart sank. He had realized that the woman that was sitting in front of him had been sexually abused. When Troy finally collected his thoughts, he looked at Gabriella.
"I don't want that from you, Gabriella" Troy said.
Gabriella giggled sarcastically.
"That's what all the men that have raped me have said" Gabriella said as she got up.
Troy got up and followed Gabriella to the front door.
"Gabriella. I don't want that from you. I think it's sick what men have done to you and I am sorry that you have had to go through that" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Stay here tonight. Tomorrow we will figure out what you will do okay? Maybe I can get you some help" Troy said.
"Why would you help me?" Gabriella asked.
"I want you to be happy and not have to deal with this kind of thing. You deserve better than that" Troy said.
"You don't even know me" Gabriella said.
Troy motioned to the couch in the living room. Gabriella walked over to the couch and sat down. Troy sat on the couch that was across from it.
"I may not know what you have gone through Gabriella, but I want to help you get through this problem you are in" Troy said.
Gabriella thought for a minute. She then looked at Troy and nodded. Troy smiled.
"First of all, you need some help with that cut on your neck. I have some rubbing alcohol in the cabinet and I will clean it up" Troy said.
"No! I-I mean I will clean it myself. Thank you" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded.
"I will go get the rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy got up to get the antiseptic and cotton swabs. He came back two minutes later and gave it to Gabriella. Troy watched Gabriella clean her wounded neck. After she was done, Gabriella threw the cotton swab away and handed the bottle of rubbing alcohol to Troy.
"There are some pajamas in the guest room. Feel free to use them" Troy said.
"Thanks" Gabriella said as she walked to the guest room.
Troy smiled.
"Good night, let me know if you need anything" Troy said.
"I will" Gabriella said as she closed the door.
Troy sighed and walked upstairs and got into bed and fell asleep. Downstairs, Gabriella opened a clothes drawer and saw the pajamas that Troy was talking about. She took off her clothes and changed into the clean pajamas. Gabriella walked over to the bed and put her hand on the sheet. She smiled when she felt it's warm and inviting texture. Gabriella got into bed and closed her eyes. She hadn't been in a bed by herself in a long time. Sleep started to take over Gabriella and her eyes closed. The next morning, Gabriella opened her eyes and remembered that she was at Troy's house. She got up and left the room. Gabriella walked downstairs and smiled when she saw Troy in the kitchen. Troy looked up and smiled.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?" Troy asked.
"Good morning. I slept fine. How did you sleep?" Gabriella asked.
"Fine. Hey listen, I made an appointment for you to see one of my friend's who is a doctor. Maybe she can check you out" Troy said.
"Troy, that's really nice of you but I can't" Gabriella said.
"Gabriella, please go and see this doctor. Maybe she can help you" Troy said.
Gabriella thought for a minute and then nodded.
"Okay" Gabriella whispered.
"Alright. The appointment is at eleven" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy and Gabriella ate breakfast and then left to go to the doctor. Troy drove to the doctor's office and parked his car. Gabriella looked at Troy nervously.
"She's just going to make sure your okay, Gabriella. Her name is Dr. McKessie. She is one of my best friends" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy and Gabriella got out of the car and walked into the office. Troy signed Gabriella in and sat next to her. A few minutes later, a nurse came into the waiting room with a file.
"Gabriella?" the nurse called.
Gabriella and Troy got up and followed the nurse. The nurse took Gabriella's height and weight and escorted Troy and Gabriella to an exam room.
"Gabriella, please change into this gown and take your underwear and bra off and Dr. McKessie will be in shortly" the nurse said.
Gabriella nodded. The nurse left and Troy looked at Gabriella.
"I am going to wait outside the room so you can change. Open the door when you are done, okay?" Troy said.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
Troy left the room. Gabriella sighed and changed into the gown. She then opened the door and Troy walked back into the room. Gabriella sat on the exam table and looked at the door.
"She is going to ask you a couple questions and check you out" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. There was a knock on the door and Dr. McKessie came into the room and smiled.
"Hi Troy, how's everything? Who is this?" Dr. McKessie asked.
"Hi Tay, I'm fine. This is Gabriella. I found her at the market. She is homeless and I wanted to get her checked out to make sure she is okay" Troy said.
Dr. McKessie nodded.
"Hi Gabriella" Dr. McKessie said.
"Hi Dr. McKessie" Gabriella said softly.
"Please call me Taylor. Any friend of Troy's is a friend of mine" Taylor said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I want to make sure that you are alright okay? Will you let me?" Taylor asked.
Gabriella nodded nervously. Troy smiled slightly.
"I am going to go to the waiting room" Troy said.
"No Troy, don't leave me" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella and saw tears in her eyes.
"Gabriella, you are in good hands. I promise. Taylor won't hurt you" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"If you need me, I will be right outside okay?" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy smiled and left the room. Taylor looked at Gabriella and smiled.
"Gabriella, if you don't mind me asking, have you been sexually active in the last couple of weeks?" Taylor asked carefully.
Gabriella nodded tearfully.
"I was raped" Gabriella cried.
Taylor's heart sank. This young woman was scared to be around anyone. She was kind and polite. Taylor wondered why anyone would want to hurt her.
"I need to check you out, is that okay?" Taylor asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"Alright" Taylor said.
Taylor had tested Gabriella for everything she could think of including STDs, pregnancy and bacterial diseases and they all came up negative.
"Gabriella, all the tests I took were negative. You are completely clean and safe. You are lucky to have found Troy" Taylor said.
Gabriella smiled.
"He is lucky to have found me" Gabriella said.
Taylor smiled.
"I am going to talk to Troy and see what we can do to help you okay? But if you need anything, give me a call" Taylor said as she handed Gabriella her card.
"Thank you" Gabriella said simply.
"You are very welcome" Taylor said.
Gabriella and Taylor walked out of the exam room. Taylor walked Gabriella out to the waiting room.
"Troy, can I have a word?" Taylor asked.
Troy walked over to Taylor and the two friends walked to Taylor's office. Taylor closed the door and sat down at her desk.
"What did you find?" Troy asked.
"She's clean. There were no STDs found and she's not pregnant. But she did tell me something personal" Taylor said.
"What did she tell you?" Troy asked.
"She's been raped. I don't know how many times, but you are very lucky to have found her Troy" Taylor said.
"She mentioned that. I didn't want her to be left in the street, Tay. Gabriella's a sweet girl and she doesn't deserve that treatment from any man" Troy said.
"I know. But I am letting you know right now that Gabriella is very sensitive. Men are a sensitive topic for her and you need to be careful of what you do. She will start to trust you over time, but for right now, just be careful with her" Taylor said.
"When you say sensitive, what do you mean by that?" Troy asked.
"Don't touch her and catch her off guard. It might set her back. That's what I mean. Be careful, Troy. She's scared to death" Taylor said.
Troy nodded.
"I will be careful. Thanks, Tay" Troy said.
Taylor smiled. Troy left Taylor's office and walked to the waiting room. He saw Gabriella and smiled. Troy walked over to Gabriella.
"Are you ready to go back home?" Troy asked.
"Home?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, my house is now your home" Troy said.
Gabriella's eyes widened.
"Yes" Gabriella said quietly.
Troy and Gabriella left the office and got into the car. Troy looked at Gabriella and smiled.
"Taylor said you were healthy. You didn't have any problems" Troy said.
"That's good" Gabriella said.
Troy pulled into the driveway and parked his car. Gabriella and Troy got out of the car and walked into the house.
"Gabriella, do you want to take a shower?" Troy asked.
Gabriella's eyes widened when she heard that. She started stepping away from Troy. Troy realized what he said and put his hand on his mouth.
"I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I meant there is a shower down the hall. Do you want to use it?" Troy asked.
Gabriella giggled. Troy smiled.
"I'm really not good at this" Troy said.
"No, you are fine. I guess how you said it the first time was a little weird. But, I can use your shower?" Gabriella asked.
"Of course" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. Troy opened a cabinet and handed Gabriella a towel.
"The bathroom is down the hall" Troy said.
"Thank you" Gabriella said.
Gabriella walked down the hall to the bathroom and closed and locked the door behind her. She undressed and turned on the shower. Once the water was warm, she got into the shower and smiled when the water hit her skin. Gabriella washed her hair and body. Twenty minutes later, Gabriella got out of the shower and got dressed. She came out of the bathroom and felt human. Gabriella walked downstairs and found Troy sitting in the living room. Troy looked up when he heard footsteps.
"Hey, how was your shower?" Troy asked.
"Great. Thank you for letting me use it" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"No problem. Hey, I was going to have some friends come over tomorrow. They would love to meet you. Are you okay with that?" Troy asked.
"Are they male?" Gabriella asked.
"Yes, nobody will hurt you, Gabriella. I promise" Troy said.
Gabriella swallowed hard.
"You will be safe" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. Troy smiled.
"Okay" Troy said.
The rest of the day, Troy tried to make Gabriella feel comfortable in his home. He hoped that Gabriella would learn to trust him and realize he's not a bad guy.