Mabel’s POV
I stood in the hallway, helpless, as he stormed out of the house, raging. His footsteps echoed down the street, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he would do next. My stomach twisted anxiously. God only knew where his anger would take him now.
With a deep sigh, I swung my eyes to Ashley’s room while with every move that I made the feeling of pain inside my chest heightened.
I swung open the door with so much tenderness. And then, when I saw her, my throat sucked at that view. The delicate body curled into a grieving, quivering bundle on the floor by her bed, as tears racked in unending quivers shook her whole being.
“Ashley?” I called softly, my quivering voice breaking. She raised her head slowly, and then I saw it-her swollen eyes, red and puffed up from all the crying.
“How long are you going to cry, Ashley?” I sat next to her on the floor, not knowing what to say but needing to find just the right words to say to make her pain go away, to feel better.
“You’re strong, Ashley,” I kept telling her, trying to raise her spirits. “You have been through so much before, and I know you can get through this too, just like you did back then.”
But she shook her head, her voice breaking as she whispered, “I’m not strong, Mabel.”
Tears streamed from her eyes, and my heart ached for her. “I thought I was strong,” she sobbed, her words choked with regret. “But I was just pretending, fooling myself and everyone around me. Do you know why I never dated anyone after that incident with Gabriel? It’s because I never really got over it. I just locked it all away, buried it deep down, and pretended like it never happened. But last night….” Her voice faltered, and the pain on her face was almost too much to bear. I lived that nightmare again last night, Mabel-every minute of it.”
The tears fell freely now, and without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as her body shook with grief.
“You’re strong, Ashley,” I whispered, my voice firm yet soft. “It doesn’t matter if you locked it away or if it’s still part of your battle. What matters is that you survived. It didn’t beat you. You always managed to be bigger than any low; don’t let your doubts make you small now.
She looked at me, her eyes filled with doubt. “Do you really think I can survive this?”
I nodded, my voice steady. “You’re a fighter, Ashley. You’ve always fought your way through life’s hardships. And this time will be no different. You’ll fight your way through this, too.
She clung to me, hugging tightly, as if drawing some strength from my words. “Thank you so much, Mabel, you are the only one who really supports me,” she said in a soft voice but full of appreciation.
I smiled, trying to lighten her burden, even if for just one fleeting moment, and thus asked, “No more tears?” all the time wiping off the remnants of her sadness.
“No more tears,” she nodded, her voice steadied.
I gave her a reassuring smile. “Now that your spirit’s lifted a bit, I should tell you something. Steven was here earlier.”
She froze, her eyes wide with surprise. “What?” she gasped.
I nodded. “He looked genuinely sorry, Ashley. You said it yourself; he was drunk. He wouldn’t have done what he did if he had been in control of his actions.
She frowned, crossing her arms. “Why are you defending him? You never liked him.”
I sighed, knowing how she felt. “That’s true. But when I saw him this morning, the look in his face… It was the face of a man who was terrified for the woman he loves.”
Ashley snorted with bitter laughter. “He doesn’t love me, Mabel. If anything, he thinks of me as nothing other than a burden.”
I shook my head, my voice firm but soft. “I’m sure you’d think differently if you’d seen him earlier today.”
She turned to me, an incredulous look on her face. “What did you say to him when he came?”
I took a moment to answer. “I told him you didn’t want to see him. And I might’ve mentioned that little incident between you and Michael in high school.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?!”
“I’m so sorry,” I quickly said, filled with guilt. “I know it was personal, but I was just so angry from what he did to you. I wanted him to feel how much he hurt you.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “What did he say when you told him?”
“He asked where you went to high school.
Ashley’s eyes went wide. “The high school we went to?” she asked, her voice shaking a little.
I nodded. “Then he stormed out, saying he’d be back.”
Suddenly, Ashley shot up from the floor, panic flooding her face. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?!” she shouted, her voice rising in alarm.
I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her sudden outburst. “What was I supposed to tell you earlier?” I asked a bit defensively.
Her face went pale. “He’s going after Gabriel!” she exclaimed, fear lacing her words.
I frowned, trying to calm her down. “He doesn’t even know where Gabriel is. Neither do we.
But Ashley was not that easy to reassure. “Oh, that won’t stop Steven, Mabel. If anyone can track someone down in no time, it’s him.”
I sighed, trying to think of a solution. “Okay, let’s say he does find him. Gabriel deserves whatever punishment Steven gives him. That guy was a total jerk to you.
Ashley’s eyes blazed with an intensity that made her head shake furiously. “If it was just a little punishment, I don’t care. But Steven… he goes to the extremes when he is angry. We have to find Gabriel before Steven does.”
“Okay, now, how do we find him?” My voice was laced with urgency.
Ashley stared back at me, an edge of determination in her voice. “You’re still in contact with some of our old high school friends, right? Make some calls. Find out where he’s hiding.”
I let out a deep sigh, not knowing whether I was ready for what was about to happen. “Fine,” I grumbled, already fearing the consequences.