Page 13 of Fractured
She digs in her handbag, tossing the keys at him.
Danny catches them and grabs her around the waist.
“I thought you liked my dick?”
Anna laughs and leans on his shoulder as she staggers out. I follow so I can watch her and my emotions get the better of me.
I run to her and pull her tight into my arms once more. “I love you, Anna. More than you’ll ever know.” My eyes prickle as I smile at her, holding her cheeks.
Her blue eyes wrinkle, “Hey? What the fuck? I love you too; we have a spa date on Thursday. I’m not going anywhere.” She thumbs the tear from my eye.
I nod my head and let her go. Danny whispers in her ear and makes her laugh. I wrap my arms around my waist and watch them. They look good together.
Returning to my bedroom, I go to the coffee table, pick up the fallen petals, and put them in the bowl on my way to take mybath. I put on my pajamas and head to the studio to make my bed on the floor. Once I snuggle in, I fix my gaze on my garden painting and go to sleep knowing today was a good day.
Thursday arrives all too soon, and the same routine falls as the rest of the week. Wake up, get dressed, wait, and follow the orders set for the day by Sasha.
When Sasha finally comes to get me. We head to the dining room for breakfast. I open the door expecting Alex's mother or my mother to be sitting at the table but there is no one there, only a silver domed tray sitting on the huge table in my usual chair.
Sasha stays by the door. I look back at her as I sit down.
“Is anyone else joining me?”
She shakes her head. “They ordered me to make sure you eat.” She points at the plate. “Eat.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and pick up my fork to stab a potato. Putting it in my mouth, I fight the gag reflex as I chew. Reaching for the coffee pot, I pour a cup, adding my cream and sugar in, stirring. Taking a sip, I swallow the potato down with the coffee.
I look back at Sasha and she nods at me as if to say you need to eat more. Lifting a buttered piece of toast I take a bite, chewing slowly. It tastes like cardboard in my mouth, and I take another sip of coffee.
My stomach rolls and I put my hand over my lips to keep from gagging. I swallow and wait a few seconds before lifting my fork and picking up a few more potatoes. The fork shakes in my hand, a few potatoes dropping to my plate and I try to eat what remains on my fork.
I cover my mouth to keep the food in and chew slowly. Reaching for my coffee and taking a sip, I swallow the mush down. Saliva is building in the back of my throat and I swallowtrying to keep from gagging in front of Sasha.
Lifting my napkin, I wipe the sweat that breaks out on my upper lip and my cheeks start to tingle. The few morsels I have eaten threaten to come right back up and I swallow it down again. With a trembling hand, I take another bite of toast and chew, gagging halfway through eating it and trying to cover the sound behind my napkin.
Sasha’s hand softly touches my shoulder. Her voice is barely a whisper.
“You don’t have to eat anymore, Isabella.” She backs up as I hold my chest and chew. I take a sip of coffee and stand up, placing my napkin on the table.
“May I go to my room till we leave for the spa?”
She nods and opens the door, stepping back so I can go ahead of her. She follows me. Once I reach my bedroom, she opens it and steps back. She smiles at me for the first time and closes the door.
My stomach heaves, and I run to the bathroom, lifting the lid on the toilet just before my stomach empties. My forehead is covered in beads of sweat. I sit on my butt and hang my head over the toilet. My insides shake and I take big breaths. Grabbing some toilet paper I wipe my lip and throw it in the toilet, flushing it once more.
Slowly I make my way to the sink and brush my teeth, then swish with mouthwash. Grabbing a face cloth out of the cabinet I run it under cold water, holding it to my face and wiping the back of my neck to cool my skin down.
I don’t bother looking in the mirror as I grab a glass, put some water in it, and take it with me to the seating area. I walk around the couch, leaning over the flowers, and pouring some water into the vase before I take a small sip and sit down.
Picking up a few petals I put them in the bowl and read while Iwait.
The beams of sunlight highlight the dust bunnies as they fly in the air. The sun has moved across the coffee table now. It is almost in the middle which means it is close to lunchtime.
There is no clock here or a remote for the TV. These days everyone uses their phones to check the time, which Alexander took. So I started watching the sun on the coffee table at mealtimes to judge the time. I could have asked Sasha, but really, what’s the point? Nothing in my life changes.
I get up and grab my garment bag off the back of the bathroom door, and lay it on my bed. I sit down beside it and watch the door. I look at the coffee table. The sun’s rays are slightly angled toward the desk now. Soon.
As if on cue, Sasha opens the door and looks over at the couch. She steps further into the room, looking slightly panicked. Standing up, I take my bag, jolting her attention my way. I smile and move past her to the hall and go down the stairs.
