Breakdown

The screech of the tires sliding on the asphalt had a rhythm that pierced Amelia’s ears. Thump, thump, thump reverberated through the car as it slid off the road. A loud pop and then the hissing of steam ended the crescendo. The warm, sweet smell of antifreeze filled the car.

“Are you ok?” Amelia asked her son David.

“I’m OK.”

“Let’s get out of the car.”

“Mom, my door won’t open.”

“Come out this side,” Amelia said as she exited the car.

David crawled over to her side and followed her out.

The hissing from the car subsided, and the crickets continued their serenade, unconcerned about the carriage they just witnessed. The chirping frogs continued their ritual, hoping to find a mate. An owl hooted in the distance. There wasn’t any sign of the dog that ran out in front of her.

The car was not in good shape. One headlight shined dimly into the woods. The car sat in the ditch at an odd angle. She didn’t even know what kind of car it was, but it looked expensive. James let her borrow it to pick up her son.

Is James going to be angry?” David asked.

“I, I don't know.”

She fished her phone out of her pocket with trembling hands and called James. It rang once.

“Hi, Amelia,” James said.

“H-Hi James.”

“Amelia, what’s wrong?”

“I-I wrecked your car.”

“Are you OK?” he asked.

“Yes, we are OK.”

“Where are you?”

“About 5 min from your house.”

“I’m on my way.”

He hung up.

“Is he angry?” David asked.

“I-I’m not sure.”

Her mind raced with possibilities. Would he be mad? Would he hit her? Would she end up in the hospital again? Should she run? She started pacing back and forth, trying to remain calm. She had only been dating James for a few weeks. He seemed nice, but they all did in the beginning.

There were no other houses around. No other cars on the road. No witnesses to what had just happened or what might happen. James lived in an isolated area. He said he liked his privacy. It was very picturesque, but now she realized how vulnerable she was.

She could see headlights approaching in the distance. It had to be James. Maybe this time, it would be different. Maybe she picked a good guy. Maybe he wouldn’t be angry about his car. She looked at the car again, and fear knotted up in her stomach. How could he not be mad when he saw the damage to the vehicle?

She glanced at David; his worried look broke her heart, and she positioned herself between him and the approaching vehicle in an attempt to be strong. He had seen so much violence in his young life. She worried what the long-term effects would be on him.

James’s truck approached quickly and came to a screeching halt. The headlights of the truck illuminated the wreck. The damage was evident when he stepped out of the truck. He took in the scene, looked at Amelia, and approached quickly.  

With each step of his boots on the asphalt, she wilted into herself, fearing what would come next. He carried himself with authority, towering over her as he approached. His intense demeanor, which she found so attractive, now imposed fear deep in her soul.

The headlights behind him hid his face. She could not read his emotions, so her mind, filled with fear, played out the worst scenario. He was going to be mad; he was going to yell. He was going to hit her for wrecking his expensive car. She just knew it.

He moved his arm back, fear knotted up in her gut, and she flinched.  She could not help it. Years of abuse she has had instilled a fear deep down in her being. She waited for the blow she knew was going to come.

James stopped just a step away. She could finally see his face. She did not recognize the look. It was not anger; it was something else entirely.

“Amelia, are you OK?” His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

She nodded, unable to speak, trembling, waiting for what was coming next.

“Did you think I was going to hit you?”

He said it. Her worst fear. What would he think of her now?

He held his arms open as he took a step closer.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Amelia.”

He took a step closer. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m not like those other guys.”

He took her in his arms like a warm blanket wrapping around her.

She could not hold back the tears anymore.

“You’re safe with me. No one is going to hurt you again.”

She just cried. It was more than just the accident; it was years of abuse and violence. Sleepless nights coiled into a ball of fear. The pain, the bruises, the hospital visits saying she fell again. Once she started, it was like the dam holding her emotions had finally burst. All her hurt came running out as the tears streamed down her face.

Somehow, he knew it was more than just the wreck. He held her in his warm embrace, protecting her from the demons of her past.

“It’s OK, just let it out.”

And she did. It was like a festering wound had been lanced. The poison ran out. It was cathartic, releasing all the pent-up hurt she had bottled up. Eventually, the waterfall of emotion slowed to a trickle. She took a hesitant breath.

“I’m sorry about your car.”

“It’s OK; that is what insurance is for. I’m just glad you and David are alright.”

Something in his voice made her look up. She saw something she had never seen before. Tears in the corner of his eyes. The vault inside her, where she kept her pain, empty now, filled with love. Right then, she knew, deep in her soul, that she was safe with James. He was not like all the others. He would never hurt her or her son.