Breaking Free
Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of domestic violence, and physical and emotional abuse. The main character was in an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who hurt her both physically and mentally. The story also depicts the main character's struggle to escape from the abuse and find love and healing with another person. If you are sensitive to these topics, please read with caution. If you are experiencing domestic violence or need help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website. You are not alone, and you deserve to be safe and happy.
Chapter 1
EDWARD
Four and a half years later
It had been a long day. Starting a company my junior year of college seemed like a good idea, though stressful. And I managed to balance school and work like a seasoned professional.
Rubbing my neck, I looked around the lobby of the apartment building I lived in. That's when I saw her.
Bella.
She was standing in the lobby, holding a grocery bag and her purse. She looked up and our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized her face, then I was flooded with mixed emotions. Of longing. I still loved her.
I hadn't seen her since last Christmas, at my parents. My parents and her dad, Charlie, were good friends and got together every holiday.
Bella and I exchanged pleasantries, nothing more. I long to go back to how things were before I made my confession, told her I loved her. But I hadn't been ready then to go back to being just friends. Now, I long for the long talks we once enjoyed.
She gave me a tentative smile and walked towards me, her footsteps echoing in the lobby. She whispered my name.
"Hi, Bella," I replied, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"
I couldn't believe it was her. She looked different from the last time I saw her. Her hair was longer and darker, her face was thinner and paler, her eyes were dull and tired. She was still beautiful, but she had lost some of her spark.
"I live here," she said, pointing to the ceiling. "On the twelfth floor."
I blinked. "You live here? In this building?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I moved in a few months ago. I got a job at Creative Spaces."
I felt a pang of envy. She had moved on with her life, while I was still stuck in the past. "That's great," I said, forcing a smile. "I'm happy for you."
She looked down at her bag. "Thanks. I'm just making dinner for my boyfriend. He'll be here soon."
My smile faded. Boyfriend. Of course she had a boyfriend. She was beautiful, smart, kind. She deserved someone who could make her happy. Someone who obviously wasn't me.
I glanced at her arms and noticed bruises on her skin. They looked fresh and painful. A wave of concern wash over me. What had happened to her? Who had hurt her?
"Are you okay?" I asked, unable to hide the worry in my voice.
She quickly pulled her sleeves down and hugged her bag to her chest. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, avoiding my gaze.
She was lying. I could hear it in her voice, see it in her eyes. She was scared of something, or someone.
What are you hiding, Bella? I thought. Who did this to you?
"Are you sure?" I pressed.
She nodded, not looking at me. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure."
She had a secret buried deep inside her. A secret that weighed her down like a heavy stone. A secret that threatened to explode.
I want to know, Bella. I want to help you.
But I didn't say anything. I didn't want to push her away. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know how.
She lifted her eyes to meet mine and forced a smile, but I could see the pain behind it. "Hey, do you want to come up for a bit? We can catch up."
I hesitated. Did I want to go up with her? To see her apartment, her life, her boyfriend? To pretend that we were still best friends?
Yes, I did. The thought surprised me.
I wanted to be with her, even if it was only for a few minutes. Even if it hurt like hell.
Like I thought before, I wanted to talk to her like we used to in high school, before I ruined.
Maybe this was my chance to reconnect with her, to make things right between us.
Maybe this was my chance to save her from whatever or whomever was hurting her.
"Sure," I said, nodding. "I'd love to come up."
She smiled again, this time more genuinely. "Great," she said. "Let's go then."
She led me to the elevator.
We stepped inside and the doors closed behind us.
BELLA
I was standing in the lobby, holding a grocery bag and my purse. I had stopped store on the way home from work, hoping to make a decent dinner for my boyfriend. He had been in a bad mood lately, and I didn't want to upset him more.
I looked up and saw someone from my past. Edward. He was about to get on the elevator, but he stopped when he saw me. His eyes widened, narrowed, then softened.
I moved toward him, whispering his name.
I couldn't believe it was him. He looked the same as the last time I saw him. His hair was messy and bronze, his face was handsome, his eyes were green and intense. He was still gorgeous, but he had lost some of his charm.
"Hi, Bella," he replied, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," I said, pointing to the ceiling. "On the twelfth floor."
He blinked. "You live here? In this building?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I moved in a few months ago. I got a job at Creative Spaces."
"That's great," he said, forcing a smile as he eyed my bag. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks. I'm just making dinner for my boyfriend. He'll be here soon."
His smile faded. Boyfriend. Of course I had a boyfriend. He was smart. He seemed perfect for me. But he wasn't. Perfect was a lie I told myself, told others.
His eyes moved down to my arms, noticing the bruises on my skin. They were fresh and painful.
"Are you okay?" he asked, unable to hide the worry in his voice.
I quickly pulled my sleeves down and hugged the grocery bag to my chest. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, avoiding his gaze.
He didn't believe me. He could see through me, like he always could.
"Are you sure?" he pressed.
I nodded, but didn't look at him. "I'm sure."
I hated lying to him again.
I'm sorry, Edward. I thought. I can't tell you the truth.
But I wanted to say something. I wanted to ask him for help, but I didn't know how.
I looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. "Hey, do you want to come up for a bit? We can catch up."
I hoped he would say yes. I hoped he would come with me to my apartment.
Maybe this was my chance to escape from my nightmare, even if it was only for a few minutes.
Maybe this was my chance to reconnect with him, to make things right between us.
Maybe this was my chance to tell him that I loved him.
"Sure," he said, nodding. "I'd love to come up."
He smiled again, this time more genuinely. "Great," he said. "Let's go then."
He followed me to the elevator. We stepped inside and the doors closed behind us.