Opening Up
Ben looked at Ciara before saying, " I'm trying to get you home."
" I know."
" That's what you want, right? Back to your friends and your family?"
" I'm not so sure anymore."
" I don't get it. I'm giving you the chance to go home, and you're not taking it."
" I'm tired of being the victim of everyone thinking I'm this helpless loser that can't take care of herself."
" That's what you think people say about you?"
" Trust me, it is."
" Why do you say that?"
" I don't wanna talk about it. Especially not with you."
" Fine. I'm going straight to your mom."
" No. Wait. Okay fine! Fine, I'll tell you."
" You wanted to know why I crashed my bike, why I was racing out of town like that? Okay, well, it's because I found my boyfriend hooking up with someone very close to me."
" Yeah. Yeah, Tripp and I were in a fight, and it took him, like, two minutes to get naked under the sheets with her."
" They were sleeping together?"
" Well, they denied it, but it's not like it even matters. The point is, how many times can I be taken advantage of? How many times can I let myself get hurt like that?"
" It's not your fault for picking a cheater."
" All I know is that if they find me, it'll be nothing but endless explanations and excuses and pity for poor, pathetic Ciara, and, God, I hate that. I'm so sick of living my life like that."
" You know what? Forget it. You'd never even understand."
" Actually, I do."
" You know what it's like to walk in on your boyfriend going at it with another girl?"
" Well, it was a girl going at it with another guy, but yeah."
" Oh, um, Abigail?"
" She and I were supposed to be together. When I found out she was sleeping with Chad, I... I loved her way too much. When I found out that she didn't feel the same way, I..."
" That's when my doctor said. In that moment, I lost my grip on reality."
" If you ever had it."
" Either way. I wouldn't recommend going down that route."
" Um, thanks for the advice. Look, I may be angry, but I haven't reached the point where I'm ready to kill someone yet."
" So what are you going to do, then?"
" I have no idea."
" I know I'm the last person to say I have all the answers, but I know you can't let this fester. The hurt, the anger; it'll get to you if you let it."
" It's the reason I was riding my bike all the way out here."
" Yeah, and it almost killed you. You need to let that go before it does. I know Tripp and Claire hurt you, but you can't obsess over it."
" It's not just Tripp, okay? It's not just them. It's my whole life."
" What do you mean?"
" I don't know. All I know is I wanna break the cycle. I want a fresh start."
Ben rested his head against the door and said, " That's what I want, too."
Ciara looked at Ben, and he did the same.
Ben moved from the door and sat on the edge of the bed.
" I never thought I'd be free again. When I was released from that hospital, I just felt this overwhelming feeling of hope for the first time in years."
" I went back to Salem and just tried to make up for what I did and fix it with the people that I hurt."
" Did you really think that people like Will, Chad, and Abigail would ever forgive you?"
" I didn't know, but I had to try. Found out pretty fast that nobody wanted me there. Will and Chad pretty much rode me out of town on a rail."
" Yeah, well, can you blame them?"
Ben turned to face Ciara and said, " Well, it's a good thing they did kick me out. Otherwise, you would have been in the middle of the road, left for dead, all alone."
" I don't know why it was you who found me. All I know is I've been given a second chance at life."
" You just have to decide what you wanna do with that second chance."
" Nope."
" I'm gonna help you get well. Ciara, I'm not gonna tell anybody where you are. But if you decide you don't trust me, you wanna leave, take it upon yourself to try your own luck. I'm not gonna stop you."
" Believe me. If I had anywhere else to be, I would be there."
" It's good to know. How's the leg?"
" What do you think?"
" I think if you're gonna stay here, I need to get some pain medication and probably some antibiotics."
" Do you have any handy?"
" No, but I'll get some. I need to get some food and water anyway. You gonna be okay if I leave you for a little while?"
" I'll live."
" Gonna have to be good enough. While I'm out, I'm gonna grab you a phone charger in case you wanna call your family."
" I'm not gonna change my mind."
" Well, at the very least, we'll have to call a doctor."
" No doctors!"
" If that wound gets infected, I'm calling a doctor. There are no arguments. I saved your life. Now I'm responsible for you."
" If you don't want me to leave."
" No, no, it's fine. We do need fuel for the generator and water and other supplies."
" And you're sure you don't want me to call for help? Call your family?"
" I'm sure. I wanna stay here."
" With me?"
" With you."
" All right. Sit tight, and I'll be back as soon as I can."
" Ben? Hurry back."
Ben nodded his head and went to close the door.
" What if someone sees you?"
" I promise you I will keep a low profile. Nobody from Salem's gonna find me. That's it. I'm gonna go and get the supplies, and I'll be back. No one will be the wiser."
Ciara just nodded her head.
Ciara watched as Ben tied his shoe. He stood back up. Let out a breath, and walked out the door.