Abby's POV
I just left him there. How could I? He's always been willing to do things for me and I can't even be courteous enough to say Hello? Sometimes I wish I could hide my emotions better, but with John, well, he just knows. He's always been the only one who could read me. Who could understand me. And still, after all that, not find it necessary to run away. Not even Mike can understand me. Of course, he's never put in much effort. I find myself asking more and more often lately, why I am married to that man? That man. I can hardly say his name. It angers me even more to know that I am letting him control, hurt and manipulate me.
I've kept quiet the whole day. I haven't spoken to Carter since that morning and I haven't said a word to Susan. I know they've probably both been wondering about me and my weird behavior. But I can't tell anyone. It's easier that way. Right?
Here comes Carter. My eyes remain locked with his as he comes over to where I am standing. I know I should look away. Can he see how afraid I am? How jumpy and paranoid I've become all because of that man? Will he ask why I am wearing a thick sweater on this warm spring day? To hide the bruises of course.
He stands next to me, filling out a chart, with saying a word. No greeting, no teasing. I guess he's waiting for me to come to him. Sooner or later I'll have to try right? I don't want to ruin what we have either.
"Hey" I say quietly.
"Hi. I haven't seen you around much today. Where you been?"
"I had to take care of some stuff upstairs." I lie. I ha been sitting on the roof for a few hours, not caring who would notice I was gone or how much trouble I would be in for skipping work like that. I simply didn't care much anymore. I just sat there and cried.
"Oh, alright then. Well, I'm on break, want to grab a coffee?" I smile, relieved that he isn't upset with me.
"Sure."
He leads the way to the door, and, like a gentleman, holds it open for me.
"Thank you." He winks at me in reply.
We're sitting side by side on a park bench now. Just enjoying the beautiful weather and watch the children laughing and playing. He hasn't anything for a while now. He's making me start again, I'm sure of it.
"So..." I don't know what to say.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on? And don't tell me nothing Abby. I saw the bruises on your forearm when you pulled up your sleeve earlier." He looks me in the eye. He knows my secret.
"I banged my arm on something in the garage the other day, that's all." I hate lying to him.
"You know Abby, I've known you for a long time and I can tell when you're lying." He says simply. I hate it when he's right. "Was it Mike? Susan told me that you and him got into a pretty big fight the other day.
"John, I really don't want to talk about this. And how dare you two talk about me behind my back." I retort angrily. I get up to leave but he stops me by grabbing my hand.
"Be careful, Abby. I mean that. If you need anything, call me. OK?" I nod and walk back to the hospital, leaving John behind.
I just left him there. How could I? He's always been willing to do things for me and I can't even be courteous enough to say Hello? Sometimes I wish I could hide my emotions better, but with John, well, he just knows. He's always been the only one who could read me. Who could understand me. And still, after all that, not find it necessary to run away. Not even Mike can understand me. Of course, he's never put in much effort. I find myself asking more and more often lately, why I am married to that man? That man. I can hardly say his name. It angers me even more to know that I am letting him control, hurt and manipulate me.
I've kept quiet the whole day. I haven't spoken to Carter since that morning and I haven't said a word to Susan. I know they've probably both been wondering about me and my weird behavior. But I can't tell anyone. It's easier that way. Right?
Here comes Carter. My eyes remain locked with his as he comes over to where I am standing. I know I should look away. Can he see how afraid I am? How jumpy and paranoid I've become all because of that man? Will he ask why I am wearing a thick sweater on this warm spring day? To hide the bruises of course.
He stands next to me, filling out a chart, with saying a word. No greeting, no teasing. I guess he's waiting for me to come to him. Sooner or later I'll have to try right? I don't want to ruin what we have either.
"Hey" I say quietly.
"Hi. I haven't seen you around much today. Where you been?"
"I had to take care of some stuff upstairs." I lie. I ha been sitting on the roof for a few hours, not caring who would notice I was gone or how much trouble I would be in for skipping work like that. I simply didn't care much anymore. I just sat there and cried.
"Oh, alright then. Well, I'm on break, want to grab a coffee?" I smile, relieved that he isn't upset with me.
"Sure."
He leads the way to the door, and, like a gentleman, holds it open for me.
"Thank you." He winks at me in reply.
We're sitting side by side on a park bench now. Just enjoying the beautiful weather and watch the children laughing and playing. He hasn't anything for a while now. He's making me start again, I'm sure of it.
"So..." I don't know what to say.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on? And don't tell me nothing Abby. I saw the bruises on your forearm when you pulled up your sleeve earlier." He looks me in the eye. He knows my secret.
"I banged my arm on something in the garage the other day, that's all." I hate lying to him.
"You know Abby, I've known you for a long time and I can tell when you're lying." He says simply. I hate it when he's right. "Was it Mike? Susan told me that you and him got into a pretty big fight the other day.
"John, I really don't want to talk about this. And how dare you two talk about me behind my back." I retort angrily. I get up to leave but he stops me by grabbing my hand.
"Be careful, Abby. I mean that. If you need anything, call me. OK?" I nod and walk back to the hospital, leaving John behind.