Chandlers POV
I've somehow managed to find myself in a quiet peaceful room sat across from Ms.Geller drinking coffee. She's quiet, as usual, but even quieter than that, she hardly looks up at me instead she's been staring at her cup for the last 10 minutes.
Honestly I don't know how to approach her, I want to ask if she's okay but I know already that she will say 'I'm fine' whether it's the truth or not.
"So how have you been?" I start hoping to sound genuine, that's when I catch her attention, her eyes averting for a second to see me.
Her hands wrap tighter around her cup as she nods, "Yeah, this holiday was something I've really needed this year" I'm offered a small smile, which I return.
"You deserve it" I add watching her cheeks flush I light pink.
Again it's silent. Pushing my weight on my hands and standing from the sofa I find a pack of chocolate cookies in the cupboard drawer beside the extra coffee and crisps.
Taking one out I bite down, my stomach groaning in appreciation "Would you like one?" I mumble making sure I don't blow crumbs everywhere. Glancing over at me the woman's eyes flicker up to my face then to the packet I'm holding them down to her hands once again.
I wait patiently, "No I'm okay, I'm not hungry" still I stay with my hand held out, deep down I know she is hungry, by the way her shoulders dropped at my question, the low rumbling of her stomach screaming for her to eat.
I still wait. "I said I don't want anything Mr.Bing!" she confirms firmly never moving an inch.
I sit back across from her, the top of her head the only thing I can see looking back. "Call me Chandler" I smile, my hand reaches out, meeting hers in a weak shake.
"Monica" she responds, I nod, my brain focusing on the fact that her name is just as beautiful as her.
"Okay. I just want to say, you do know if there is anything you ever need to talk about I am here. I'm out of work now." Hopefully my words will offer some sort of comfort to her, gratefully she smiles fortunately her head doesn't bow again which makes me happy.
"Thanks." She whispers.
I can't hold it back any longer "Monica, what's wrong? Ever since last Christmas you've been so out of the ordinary, so quiet, so frightened if anyone comes too close to you. I might be your boss but it doesn't mean it goes without notice." Though Monica's head is still bowed I can see her eyes glisten with tears and I'm soon watching them trickle down her cheeks, dropping one by one into her lap.
Reaching over I quickly take the mug from her grasp setting beside mine on the table. Her now free hands rush to her face covering my view of her, cautiously I take the few steps over between the two couches. Taking the empty seat beside her, she peaks in between her fingers sniffling and my heart aches a little at the picture.
"Tell me" I whisper, my hand finds one of hers, I move slow just in case she yanks it away. She doesn't. Instead allows me to take it in both of mine and hold it tight and reassuringly.
Monica's body jolts gently as she hiccups, stifling her now controlled sobs with her sleeve, her mascara has ran down to her cheeks leaving behind darker eyes than before. Nevertheless she's gorgeous.
"I'm sorry. I'm not normally like this. I told rachel I didn't want to drink." She mumbles, though she glances around I'm guessing in the search of another. I reach behind the couch and find a bottle of whisky and two glasses, pouring out a bit for each of us I hand her a glass.
Swirling it around she waits for a few seconds, I do too, the last thing I want to do is force her to talk.
Sucking in a deep breath, Monica's voice cracks into life. "It-it umm- well it started last Christmas, just before we'd finished work for the year. You remember that guy Mike? The one who Ashley couldn't stop gossiping about?" My brain clicks into gear, it's cogs creaking under the straint of remembering.
Another shaky breath is taken before she continues. "Well we went out on a few dates and my the time Christmas came around we were dating, not exclusively because of my brother. We just wanted to wait for a bit longer." At appropriate intervals I nod, showing her I'm paying attention and I understand what she said.
I'm listening, I am. But something about her makes everything around me disappear. There's only her.
"Anyways I was really really happy, until just after Christmas when he... when he..." tears escape past her hands again, I grasp her hand tighter.
"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere you're okay" I whisper, tracing growing circles on the soft skin of her thumb.
A somewhat grateful smile tugs at her features for mere seconds, desperation and fear creeping in the way, forcing her back into an emotional cowering girl.
Then it comes out. Words I never actually thought I'd have to hear. "When he beat me."
You hear about it in the news, you hear about the endless police reports, but it's not very often you find it, witness the aftereffects of it and realise how well-hidden and how oblivious you can be to it.
Her words echo around my mind, the only thing louder are her sobs beside me, my arm automatically goes around her shoulders hugging her tightly, she might be my employee but this woman has been through a hell of a year already and I've only heard the start.
I'm still lost but I force something out hoping it'll make sense, "W-w-why?" Really!! That's all I could come out with... why?!
Slowly Monica pulls back, I go to move my arm from around her thinking she might be uncomfortable but all she does is turn slightly and lean her head against my shoulder, sniffling quietly. "I-I don't know, at first there was some kind of excuse, it soon turned to because he was bored." There's a small pause. "Do you remember when Rachel rang in sick for me and said the doctor advised me to have the week off?"
I nod, not sure whether I should already be able to guess where she's going with this or not, honestly there's too much running around my brain to focus on anything. Though I vaguely remember what she is talking about, it was some time in June, we had a whole office day off on a Monday and then on Tuesday Miss Green called us telling me Monica had a viral infection and she wasn't allowed to work for at least a week until she was better.
"Well the day before Rachel called was the worst it ever got. He came home from work, I'd eaten done the dishes and was just watching TV, he showered and yelled because I didn't have his dinner out in time. I washed his plate and the next thing I know my hair feels as though its been ripped from my scalp. He dragged me to the bedroom and continuously hit and kick me everywhere. It felt like it went on for hours, he didn't stop until I was out cold, and apparently he still hadn't stopped then" Tears furiously pour down her cheeks again, my arms hold her tighter. My insides are twisting and my stomach is churning, how could a guy ever do this in the first place. How could anyone do it? The thought on t's own is sickening.
"My friends took me to the hospital, they could Richard in the middle of it all, so they explained everything. I came home with 6 broken ribs, my entire body bruised and cut, luckily I hadn't broken any other bones. Anyways the police took him away, he's been locked up ever since."
By the time she's finished, I'll definitely say I'm mortified, the reality of it all too much to believe. Everything clicking into place at once, the not trusting me, the scared of being alone with another guy, the quiet behaviour with anyone and the defensive behaviour.
"Monica, I am so sorry. I don't know what to say, but I will help you through this and I will be here for you." Her head turns and buries into my chest, her arm wrapping around my waist, I think all she needs right now is reassurance and someone she can trust.
I just hold her, there's nothing more I can do.
My heads reeling, the thought of any man hitting a woman like that is truly disgusting, the same as it would be for a guy to be beaten by a woman. Yet I still can't understand why something like this would happen to Monica.
Over the years, even from being in school, you learn about these horrors, you hear stories through Social Media, you learn over time the punishments. You learn that it's wrong. So why is it this man wanted to do this? Take away everything from her life, not only cause her physical pain, but mental pain to the point of trusting nobody but her best friend and herself.
Everything that she told me fits into this last years behaviour. But doesn't at the same time, something's just not right somewhere. Either that or it's just my sane mind unable to fathom where there's a reasoning for it.
It fits.