She took in a whiff of the morning air, and knew it was going to be another hot day in the city. She grabbed her purse and phone from the car and saw that she had missed a call. Once she got in her apartment, she decided to make a smoothie and set her phone on the counter as she washed her hands, then started pulling some frozen fruits from the freezer, and yogurt and almond milk from the fridge. The academy had taught her about adding things like protein powder, a scoop of peanut butter and chia seeds to maximize nutrition, and she’d been making them that way since. She got the blender ready with everything in and blended away. She figured she’d check that message as she got her large glass to pour it in and got her voicemail going.
(Voicemail): Please enter your password, and press #
She presses the buttons with her pinky finger because her others had some banana mush on them.
(Voicemail): Message received at 6:03 a.m.
(Sean): Shell! It’s Sean, if you’re there, please pick up! You need to hear this! Your recording you did? It recorded everything! I heard everything! The conversation with your dad, the whole thing! Please, don’t leave me! I know you’re hurting but……
Sean’s message continues but she doesn’t hear the rest. The carafe with her smoothie in it drops from her hands to the floor mid pour, the glass shattering and a reddish, purple mess splatters the floor and onto the lower cabinets. She’s shaking uncontrollably and grips the edge of the counter for support as she tries to find her breath. She feels like she’s choking and truly can’t breathe. She grabs her phone but suddenly her whole apartment is spinning and it takes everything she has to stay upright. She staggers from the kitchen stepping on bits of glass, slips one smoothie and lands in her dining area and begins to crawl towards her sofa. She curls up there on the floor, and begins screaming as if being attacked by demons only she can see, her body jerking this way and that.
(Michelle): Stop it! Stop it! Stop…please stop!
The commotion brings her roommate out of her room, rubbing her eyes obviously having been awaken by the noise and screaming. She sees Michelle on the floor and rushes over to her, trying to shake her out of it.
(Roommate): Jesus! Michelle! Michelle! It’s Me, it’s just me…it’s alright.
She grabs Michelle into a tight hug, rocking her, brushing her hair from her face. Michelle is crying, her arms clutched across her chest as if she’s protecting her breasts.
(Roommate): Breath…just breath…in…..out….in….out….just like that….
Her roommate takes her phone and sends Sean a text message.
It’s Stacy, Michelle’s roomie, you better get over here if you can, she’s not doing too good right now. I might need to take her to the hospital.
She sends the text and guides Michelle to the sofa and lays her down. She tries to get her to change clothes but Michelle’s grip on her top is so tight in a protective, don’t touch me way, she thinks better of it and just lets her be, smoothie and all. She goes to clean up the mess in the kitchen and dining area as Michelle lays there. Twenty minutes later and there is a knock on the apartment door along with a faint voice behind.
(Sean): Shell! It’s Sean, babe, I’m here! Open up!
The door opens and it's Stacy. She's still cleaning up the kitchen as Sean can see as he steps in looking around.
(Stacy): I don't know what happened. I was in my room sleep, heard some glass breaking then screaming and came out and she was here on the floor. I don't know what she's told you, but she's not ok Sean. What happened to her has really screwed here up, I think she needs to go and see someone. Give me a sec to finish this, I need to check her feet she stepped in all this glass. Go on ahead in.
(Sean): Thanks for messaging me, I appreciate it. I know what’s happened. I’ll handle it.
He tip toes over the smashed glass and shimmies his way towards the sofa where Michelle is laid down, shaking like a leaf, her knees pulled up to her chest in the fetal position. Some blood is dripping from the sole of her foot. He gently sits down next to her, mindful not to touch her in anyway until he announces himself. He speaks in a low, soft tone.
(Sean): Shell, honey, it’s Sean…
Michelle opens her eyes hearing his voice and wraps her arms around his neck as she cries.
(Michelle): I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry Sean. This is all my fault. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Sean cradles her gently, stroking her hair soothingly.
(Sean): Sssh ssh sshh. It’s ok, I’m sorry I panicked you, it’s my fault for making you worry. We can fix it, it’s fine. You’ve experienced a trauma, Michelle, it’s nothing something you just put a bandaid on and a few days later, it’s fine. Emotional scars take longer to heal than physical ones; trust me I know.
He gently strokes her cheek with his thumb, wiping away the tears. The softness of her skin still blew his mind. It was like touching a pillow. He cradled his free around her as if wrapping her in a protective cocoon and leaned down, kissing her head and pressing his cheek against hers.
(Michelle): I thought I could handle it, but...I don't know. I wake up in sweats every night. I can still feel his tongue when he....
He can feel her body shudder.
(Michelle): You've done so much, I can't be a burden to you too. God will give me strength to see this through. I just have to be strong.
Sean leans back a bit so he can look at Michelle directly. He delicately cradles her face with his thumb and forefinger and inclines his head down as of he were peering over a pair of glasses. His emerald-green eyes focus on hers and he leans toward, softly letting his forehead touch hers.
(Sean): Listen to me, Michelle. You are “Not” a burden, do you hear me? You don’t have to rely solely on his strength to help you. I’m here, Michelle. I’ll always be here, I promise you that. Whatever it takes, I’ll get you through this.
(Michelle): I'm so embarrassed, now everyone knows. I went to the academy early this morning to avoid everyone and I did the complete opposite. I know I should have told you I was struggling, but you've worried enough. Then I saw Legion's press conference thing, and what he had to say. I just don't know what to do right now.
(Sean): Don’t worry about everyone, they all want what’s best for you. I’ll tell Mandy to delete it from the app. I’m gonna have her guts for garters for even allowing it stay up as long as it has. And don’t worry about Legion, I’m not letting him off with that pathetic excuse of an apology. He still wanted to scare you and that’s beyond the pale enough as far as I’m concerned. He still made those lewd remarks about you last month too. He’s not innocent. Anyway, don’t worry about them, sweetheart. Butch and Wisdom said you can take all the time you need and you’ll still be paid.
He looks back and sees the blood still dripping from Michelle’s foot and he sees the shard of glass protruding out.
(Sean): Right now though, I need to clean that foot of yours.
She winces, truly for the first time feeling that she stepped in glass. Sean grips her ankle with his hand as he lifts her foot. His hand his warm, and gently.
(Michelle): I feel bad for Legion. He's our age Sean, what if this ruins his career? Is it too harsh a punishment? I know what he did, or didn't do rather but does he really deserve to be fired? He did sound sorry about it. I don't know.
(Sean): He’s a big boy, Michelle, he’s big enough and ugly enough to make his own choices. He’s not some dumb kid who didn’t know any better, he knew exactly what he was doing and if he had any semblance of decency or a conscience, he would’ve stopped what happened from happening or he would’ve walked away. You ask me, Butch made the right choice. But if you want, I can talk to him.
Sean elevates Michelle’s foot slightly and with his free hand he gently but firmly grips the shard of glass sticking out of the sole of her foot.
(Sean): I’m gonna need you to stay perfectly still, babe. I won’t lie, this is gonna hurt like the Dickens…
(Michelle): I don't know. I don't think that's my decision to make with him Sean. I don't think I'd mind him being back, but certainly not Fallen. I don't think I could...I 'd just have to....never mind...
(Sean): This is your decision, Shell, whatever you want to do, I’ll back it and Butch will too. There’s nothing I want more than for you to feel safe. If he even breathed the wrong way, I’d make him pay, you know that. If you’d be comfortable enough with Legion coming back, say the word and I’ll let Butch know. But Fallen….
Sean stops for a moment. Even mentioning his name made his blood boil. He exhales deeply through his nose before continuing.
(Sean): … that’s different. I mean there’s injunctions we can put in place to stop him interacting with you. But it all boils down to how seeing him will make you feel.
(Michelle): I feel like a kid trying to decide which candy I want. I can't make these decisions Sean. Butch fired Legion he can reinstate him if he wants to, not me. This is just too distracting. You have a match to focus on at Havoc. Art of War is coming up and you don't even have a match for that yet...this is pulling you away from the business at hand and I'm sorry. Please, I'll be okay. I want you to take care of yourself. I'll speak with Wisdom and maybe talk to a counselor or something.
Sean shakes his head defiantly.
(Sean): Nuh-uhh. Not happening, babe. When it comes to you, I’ll happily take a step back if it means taking care of you. I’ve got the rest of my life to compete. You’re the most important thing in the world to me right now.
(Michelle): I guess there's only one thing to do then. Like my grammie, used to say "sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Michelle stands up from the couch and looks at Sean.
(Michelle): I can't keep doing this Sean. I can't break down like this every time something happens. I need to get back to training with Hans, I need to face this head on and get some counseling, Enough is enough, right? I mean, look at what its doing to you, I care too much about you to go on like this. I can do this.
(Sean): So, what are you saying?
(Michelle): I'm saying I need to be an adult about this and suck it up. I can't hide away in your apartment or mine, or slip into the academy early forever. I have to face this Sean one way or another, for me, and for you.
Sean beams with pride and he strokes Michelle’s cheek again.
(Sean): I’m so proud of you, honey. You’re the bravest person I’ve honestly ever met. You know I’ll stand by you through anything. If you don’t want Fallen and Legion back in the company, they’ll stay gone but if you can face them, then say the word. Him being an official employee means I can legally beat the snot out of him without reprisal.
(Michelle): I don't know about Fallen. No, I don't think I want to see him again, but Legion. If this isn't some trick, and he's serious, he’s genuine...I know in my heart that I've forgiven him for his part, maybe he's learned a valuable lesson from all of this and will be an even better person than he was before.
(Sean): That’s more than I think he deserves, but I’ll talk to Butch.
(Michelle): I look a mess, I should take a shower. Have you even had breakfast yet, can I treat you…pretty please?
Sean is helpless against her pleading eyes and knows how much it would mean for her to take charge of something right now so he agrees.
(Sean): Okay, I’ll wait here.
She smiles and leans up to plant a kiss on his cheek.
(Michelle): I won’t be but a moment, make yourself comfortable.
Sean takes a seat as Michelle heads to her bedroom. He wonders how much of a front she’s still putting up, but he’s glad that despite her internal suffering she’s resolved to move past this and not be a victim. As she undresses in the bathroom the hot water is already steamed up the mirror. She’s so grateful for Sean, and she is ready, truly ready to face this head on, but there is a part of her she admits is very much on the fence about things. But there would be no more hiding, and she’d face them all as they come. 15-mintes later she had showered, changed and she and Sean were out the door hand-in-hand. She was excited to treat him this time and was looking forward to keeping her promise of being ringside for Havoc as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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