Wounds
Chapter Two
It was Eight O'clock and the winter nights had fully taken hold outside. Kerry sat in the canteen turning the empty polystyrene cup clockwise in her hand while staring down at its contents. A vibration and a beep brought her out of her daze as she realised she had received a text message. As she flipped up the screen to read the text she was taken aback when she saw who the message was from.
Hey Kezza
Hope you don't mind me texting you but I wanted to see how you're coping. The offer is still there if you want it
Take care
Cam x
For so long she had hoped Cameron was the one, the person who would protect her from anything and everything but it became clear that his loyalties were not as strong. She still loved him but knew it would never work between the two of them again.
Hi Cam
Hope everything is good in Oz and you're spending time with Emily. I'm coping as I always have done.
All the Best
Kerry x
She had made a conscious decision to ignore his comment about moving to Australia with him as it bought too much hurt and frustration to the surface again. Kerry snapped the phone shut and placed it back on the table beside her, for a few moments she stared at the phone questioning her decision to stay when someone sat down opposite her. It was Smithy.
"Your shift finished half an hour ago, what are you still doing here?" Smithy said to her as he smiled.
"Not in the mood to go home just yet" She smiled before staring back down at the cup which was now tilted in her hand.
"You know you should ignore Gabriel don't you" Smithy said to Kerry, his voice full of consideration.
Kerry looked sharply up at Smithy and looked him in the eye, "What's this got to do about Gabriel?" She asked, fearing he may know something.
"His comment about rape victims earlier. Does he know you were raped, it just seemed like he knew something" Smithy asked.
"I never said I was raped" Kerry replied quickly fighting back the tears.
"You didn't have to" Smithy replied, passing her a tissue.
Kerry had been kidding herself for so long, she knew she wasn't over the rape and unafraid of Gabriel. She hated every minute of her life as it now was but to her there was no way out. No-one would believe her.
"I finish my shift in...eight seconds. Do you fancy going for a drink" Noticing the face Kerry pulled he continued "Not like that, as mates, for a chat."
"Ok" Kerry Smiled, fighting the tears once more. Smithy pulled the crushed tissue out of Kerry's hands and wiped her eyes gently.
"That's better" He said as he went to leave the canteen. "I'll be back in five".
....
The wine bar was surprisingly quiet for this time of the week which gave both Kerry and Smithy the privacy they needed. Handing Kerry the large glass of Red Wine she had asked for Smithy sat down on the brown leather sofa opposite Kerry.
"So what's happening in Kerry's life at the moment?" Smithy asked in attempt to break the ice.
"Oh you know, drinking way too much alcohol before bedtime, a bit of self loathing and an acceptance that I'm shit at my job" Kerry replied matter-of-factly.
"You're not shit at your job Kerry" Smithy replied sincerely.
"Why not, I'm shit at everything else" Kerry replied, pursing her lips in an attempt to stop herself from crying again. Smithy moved his beer bottle to the other side of the table before moving himself next to Kerry.
"No, you're not Kerry. Where's the feisty, cheeky, happy-go-lucky Kerry that I used to know?" Smithy asked as he placed a hand on her lap.
"She died a while ago" Kerry sobbed, staring into her wine glass.
"She didn't die because I know she can come back. If she just talks and understands that I'm here for her. Even if no-one else is"
Kerry looked at him square in the eye again and replied "You don't mean that, you think you do but you don't. Every one of us is selfish at the end of the day"
"I'm not Cameron or Luke" Smithy replied instantaneously. "I don't leave when the going gets tough, I stick it out"
"You wouldn't believe me Smithy, even if you wanted to" Kerry said solemnly
"Yes I do" he replied.
"You mean that don't you" Kerry said as she realised Smithy was deadly serious "Ok, but not here. I don't want to talk about it here, or at my house. Can we go back to yours?"
"Sure".