It was a crisp cool morning when Sophie stepped out onto the stoop and turned quickly, keys in hand to turn the lock. She heard the tell-tale rumble of the Harley and knew he was there before she even had the chance to rush back inside.
“Hello Sophie,” came a deep voice. He was standing very close behind her. Even though she knew he would be there, she still jumped. The sound of his voice evoked a horror in her that never ceased to penetrate her peace of mind.
“Go away, Dave.” She said in a voice more forceful than she felt. She fumbled with her keys trying to get the door unlocked again. He placed his hand on hers, pressing her fingers into the doorknob cruelly.
“Now, why do you have to be that way?” he said menacingly. He thumbed his fingers through her dark hair and she jumped again as he brushed her neck. He grabbed her forearm and forced her to turn and face him. He stood only a few inches taller than her, but his muscular stature made her feel dwarfed in comparison. His dark hair was windblown from riding the Harley and his brown eyes held the same intensity that she’d made the mistake of falling for in the past. He took the keys from her hand and glared at her.
“I believe we have some unfinished business.”
“Don’t! Leave me alone or I’m calling the police!” Sophie cried wincing from the tight grip on her arm. He laughed at her.
“Go ahead. You’ve tried that before and here I am.” She had called the police before. They had interrogated him, but Dave claimed it was just a lover’s quarrel. They held him overnight, but he was released the next morning. The whole incident just served to really piss him off. He’d made her pay dearly for it, too. She was black and blue for a week and could hardly walk. And he had taken what he claimed was his, along with much of her will to fight back. She spent the better part of six more months enduring his abuse. Then, a miracle occurred. He’d been picked up on an assault charge for beating a bartender. He’d put him in the hospital. He served three months after his conviction. She had managed to rid herself of him temporarily and to gather the courage to keep him at bay for the time being. He still came around occasionally to torment her. Sometimes, he would just sit on the bike across the road and watch the house. Sometimes, he would follow her through town. Sometimes, it was like this. He was digging his fingers into her arm.
“Let me go!” she yelled and tried to push him away. She attracted the attention of a passerby, who stopped short, unsure of what was going on. Dave smiled as if it assure the stranger and took a step back from Sophie. He dangled the keys in front of her face and she snatched them from his grasp.
“This isn’t over,” he declared and then stalked back to the bike, making it roar to life and then he was gone in a squeal of tires. Sophie let herself back inside, bolted the door and slid to the floor in tears.
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