Page 31 of Save Me
This is what she wanted, what she needed, but when he got closer to her, the scent of the rubber hit her nostrils. The slightest smell of it caused the memory to surface. She was back in the container, tied up, blindfolded, and a victim once more. Instantly, her stomach lurched.
“Oh god!” she cried out. She pushed Brock aside as she rushed to the bathroom and lost her entire dinner.
“Hey.” Brock was there, rubbing her shoulders.
“It’s… not you,” she said as tears rolled out of the corners of her eyes. “I swear.”
He handed her a wet washcloth and slipped her robe over her shoulders.
“I know,” he said gently.
“It’s… the rubber. The smell of it.” She closed her eyes. “I… he used it.”
“Who?” he asked as she sat down on the bathroom floor.
He was sitting on the side of her bathtub, wearing only his boxer shorts.
“Not Collins,” she said as she tucked her knees up to her chest and buried her face in her hands.
The fact that she could use that monster’s name told her she no longer feared the man.
Then she realized that Brock was quiet. So quiet that she glanced up at him. He was frowning down at the small package he’d pulled the rubber from.
“This brand?” he asked her, holding the foil package far enough away that she couldn’t smell it, only see it.
“I… I’m not sure. It might be the same. The scent… it smelled the same.”
“I’ll look into getting a brand without a scent,” he said as he set the package down on her bathroom sink.
“Thank you,” she said, holding her head up. “I swear, it wasn’t you.”
“I know,” he said, pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms around her. She felt him kiss the top of her head as more tears seeped from her eyes. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”
“I… need a moment,” she said as she dropped her arms from around his waist.
“Sure.” He smiled at her, then turned and walked out of the bathroom.
Leaning against the sink, she looked deep into her own eyes and assured herself that she was once more safe. That it was in her past. That Brock was not mad at her or upset like Carl would have been.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she stepped back into her bedroom to find Brock sitting up in her bed.
“If it’s okay, I’d like to sleep in here with you tonight,” he said, pushing aside the blankets.
She easily walked over and slid under them and crawled into his arms.
“Yes,” she said with a sigh. “It’s okay.”
“See, no weirdness.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Thank you.” She listened to his heart beating against her ear.
“No, thank you. You’re amazing, by the way,” he said, and the sound of his voice vibrating in his chest soothed her further.
“Hm?” she asked.
“Seeing you come. Watching you let everything go.” He sighed. “Amazing. I can’t wait to see it again.”
“Okay,” she said and quickly fell asleep.
