The trauma and stimulation turned me into someone who suffered from mutism and panic attack disorder.
Night after night, I woke in horror, trapped in one nightmare after another. Only when my gaze landed on the familiar furniture did I begin to calm down.
I was trying to get out of bed to go to the bathroom when I heard raised voices drifting up from downstairs. It was Simon arguing with someone.
“Who the hell gave you permission to touch her? If I hadn’t gotten there in time, she’d never be a model again! What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled furiously.
I pressed my hand against the cold door and hid in the shadows. So… he wasn’t the one behind it?
Yet, it didn’t matter. If Simon hadn’t turned a blind eye to Kelly and his so-called “brothers,” they would’ve never dared lay a hand on me in the first place.
A quiet, bitter laugh escaped me. They were all cut from the same rotten cloth.
“I told you, this was between me and her. I’ve told you, no one was to touch her!”
Kelly’s sobs filled the air. They were sweet, sorrowful and manipulative. “Simon, how could you yell at me because of her? I thought you hated her! I was just trying to help you get revenge. What did I do wrong?”
Someone snapped indignantly, “Simon, she left you for money and fame. She’s the reason you lost everything. Do you really not hate her? Kelly did it because she loves you so much. What’s wrong with that?”
“Jane broke your heart, man. You can’t seriously still be into that heartless woman, right?”
“Enough! I’m not in love with her. I’m marrying Kelly. She’s the only one I love.”
The crowd looked at each other in disbelief. Anyone could see that Simon was out of sorts, but none of them said anything …
Upstairs, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I quickly returned to bed and shut my eyes, though my tightly furrowed brows betrayed my unease.
The door creaked open. Simon entered quietly, stepping softly. He knelt beside my bed and he reached out his hand. It seemed he wanted to feel my forehead.
However, I snapped my eyes open and tilted my head, avoiding his touch.
Seeing the hollowness in my eyes and how distant I was toward him, Simon’s heart clenched.
His hand hovered mid-air for a long moment before slowly falling to rest on the edge of the bed. With a gentle voice, he said, "Janey… don’t be afraid. Those men are gone. I took care of them. No one’s going to hurt you again.”
I didn’t respond to him. My gaze stayed locked on the ceiling, blank and unreachable.
“Please…” Simon’s voice cracked. “Janey, I’ll find the best doctors. I swear I’ll help you speak again. However, please… don’t shut me out like this.”
He sounded so heartbroken and humbled, his voice trembling with unshed tears.
At last, I moved. I raised my finger and pointed to the door. Without making any sound, my mouth formed the words, “Get out!”
Seeing this, Simon knew I didn’t want him there.
When I saw him standing frozen in place, my control snapped. I grabbed an object on the table and hurled it toward Simon.
“Okay! Fine! I’ll go!” Simon was too worried sick about upsetting me, about making me even more ill, so he backed out of the room. I could see it through his eyes that it broke him to do so.
