Chapter 6
“Clarke?”
Abby was lost. By the look of Clarke something was seriously wrong and she needed to know what it was. Lexa was silently standing behind her. Abby could sense that the woman wasn’t sure if she should leave and Abby would have liked her to, because whatever Clarke was going to tell her, it seemed to be personal and of gravity. But one look at Clarke and Abby had a feeling that Clarke was hoping for … no longing for Lexa to stay. Like she was safe ground. How could this be? They had only known each other for a few days.
Clarke was tense. She didn’t know how to start. It took her a minute or two until the words finally started pouring out of her.
“The reason … the reason I left … I …”
Abby made a step in her direction, but Clarke signaled her to stay away. She needed to get it out, right now.
“The reason why I left is, because Finn … he tried to rape me.”
Abby felt her stomach turn.
“He has been stalking me … He has been stalking me for weeks and one day he was inside my apartment. … Somehow he still had the key and he … he tried …”
The tears came and Clarke couldn’t stop them. “He wanted to get back together and I told him no, but he didn’t listen. He just wouldn’t listen. He was ... strong, I almost didn’t … I almost didn’t make it out.”
Abby stared at her daughter. Why hadn’t she come to her? Why hadn’t Clarke talked to her? Inside of her a storm was raging. The little bastard. She would rip his head of.
“I don’t remember how I got out of the apartment exactly.” Clarke’s voice sounded a little calmer now. “I just got in the car and drove. The next morning I woke up on Long Island. I have no idea how I got there.” She looked at Abby. “I know I should have told the police, but I had no proof and I know that they can’t do anything unless there has been an actual crime.” She paused. “I was scared. When I came back, I had the super change my lock and didn’t leave the apartment after that. A day later I got a call from a friend I know from med school. He is an army doctor and was supposed to ship out a few days later, but he broke his arm. They were understaffed and I needed to get away, so I just went in his place.”
There it was. She did it. Clarke felt exhausted, like she had just run a marathon. She felt her mother’s eyes on her and looked up.
“Why didn’t you come to me, Clarke?”
She knew Abby was hurt, but right now she felt so empty.
“And what would you have done, mum? Taken a gun and finish him? Because I was afraid that you might actually do that.”
Abby stared at her and she knew that Clarke was right. She had no idea what she would have done. She actually had no idea what she was going to do now. Only a few days ago she had seen Finn and he had been smiling at her.
“I’m sorry, mum. I’m sorry for not talking to you. It was just … I know it’s stupid, but I was so embarrassed. I felt like maybe I wasn’t clear enough. Maybe I said something he might have misinterpreted. I don’t know … It doesn’t make sense.”
“It wasn’t your fault!” Abby closed the distance between them and pulled her into her arms. “It wasn’t your fault, honey.” She felt Clarke’s tears and she held her even tighter.
After a while Abby looked up. Her eyes locked on Lexa and what she saw made her shiver. Even though Lexa’s face seemed stoic she could see the rage bubbling underneath the surface. Her eyes gave it away as well as the way she had clenched her jaw and her hands had turned into fists. Abby didn’t need an explanation. It was evident how much Lexa Woods cared for her daughter and somehow it made Abby relax. She didn’t know how, but she knew Lexa would deal with the problem.