Don’t Cry Baby

Ty left early this morning for work, I wasn't even awake yet. I rolled out of bed about an hour after he'd already gone and walked into our bathroom. I step into the stand up shower and wash away the sleep sweat.

As I rinse the soap from my hair and lean my head back letting the water fall down my back, relaxing me and warming up my aching muscles. I finish up my warm shower and reluctantly climb out letting the cold air envelope me as I step out. I almost slip on the water dripping from my hair as I notice I am not alone in this room. A man stands in the doorway, a man who is not Tyler.

"Hey Ashley, fancy seeing you here." I stare at him, unable to take my eyes away from his dark complexion and caramel eyes I still dream about. I quickly wipe away a tear hoping he hadn't notice as I feel like my heart fell into my stomach. I fight the urge to run over and hug him, seeing him here and alive makes my knees weak. I try to compose myself, I know Tyler would be angry if he was here. He might hurt him, I can't have that.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, how did you get in my house?"

"Funny how you didn't ask me who I am though." My throat tightens and I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek trying not to break down in front of him. He comes closer to me and I attempt to back away but, my back hits the cold glass of my shower. Damien reaches for me, i flinch away from his touch and ignore the pained look in his eyes. I don't bother to look at him as I speak.

"How did you find me?"

"I called the emergency hotline you work for, that was a dead end. They wouldn't even give me your information for obvious reasons. After that I looked you up, it was pretty silly of you to put yourself on social media under your new name. I tracked you down using pictures you put up." I resist the urge to bring my hand to my face as I realize he is so right, I never should have opened that stupid account on facebook but, it was the only way I could still see my family without leaving Ty.

I push past Damien and walk back into my bedroom. I hear him follow me but, I quickly grab my phone from the bedside table before he sees and bring it over to my dresser. I place the phone inside the dresser so that it looks like I am looking for clothes while I press Ty's number and call. I hear him pick up and I leave the drawer open. I hear Ty say hello, without picking up the phone I speak to Damien to let Ty know that he is here.

"Damien you need to leave, I can't go with you. I love him, we're happy" I feel a warm tear fall from my eyes, if only he knew I was trying to protect him, if only he knew why I had to leave. Why I left him there to die.

"Ashley, I know you could be happier with me. Come home, come back to me." Damien reaches for my arm once more, I clutch desperately to the towel wrapped around me. I close my eyes, I wish I could say everything I want to say but I can't. I wish I could tell him that I love him but, I can't. I hear the phone disconnect, I know Tyler will be on his way now. Damien steps closer to me and I feel him against my back, he traps me against the dresser and his body. I want to lean against him and feel the comfort he has always given me. I bite my cheek again, tasting copper.

"Damien stop, you need to go. He won't be happy knowing you're here." He makes no move to back off.

"How would he know that I'm here, just leave with me. I'll keep you safe?" I shake my head and more tears fall from my eyes. I turn and around and come face to face with those eyes, the eyes that comfort me in my dreams.

"I...I called him." I close my eyes feeling the guilt rise up like bile in my throat. I hear him sigh and he backs up away from me. The warmth that he filled me with leaving instantly. A chill rolls up my spine. "Just come with me Ash, he'll only hurt you." I turn away from him once more and find some clothes to put on. I grab a sweater and pants.

"I need

get

you need to leave." I leave the room and manage to get to the bathroom without Damien. I lock the door as I close it. I slide down the door letting my towel fall. I bring my legs up to my chest and hug them tightly to my body letting the tears fall freely. I squeeze my eyes shut wishing that he would just leave, I was keeping him safe and he is now ruining it.

I hear him knock softly on the door and say my name. I stand up without saying a word and pull on the clothes I brought in here.

"Damien, I'm not going with you." I slowly open the doors once my clothes are on and I step out of the bathroom. As I step out I hear Ty enter the house and my heart starts to pound. I knew he would be here but, I didn't think he would be here so quickly. I need to show him that I want Damien to leave, I need to keep him safe.

As he steps into our bedroom, his eyes wild and fists already clenched. I look towards him and see him soften slightly as he looks at me. I run towards him and envelop him in a hug. His hands wrap around me and fingers lace into my hair.

"This is such bullshit, he hurt you Ashley!"

Ty lets me go and pushes me aside, not hard enough to hurt me but hard enough that I stumble slightly.

"You shouldn't even fucking be here Damien."

"Tyler you are such a fucking psychopath." Damien lunges towards Tyler but, Ty is able to move to the side. Damien's reflexes aren't as quick as Ty and he stumbles and falls to the ground. Ty climbs on top of him and begins to hit him. I slide down the wall and land on the floor just a few steps away from the two boys. I stare at the commotion

going on in front of me, tears rolling down my face, wishing that Damien never found me. He shouldn't be

here, it is my fault.

I find the courage to crawl towards them, I grab hold of Tyler's hand mid swing, his eyes turn to mine. The whites of his eyes bloodshot with rage; his hair disheveled and falling into his face. He looks like a crazy person, Damien's dark complexion can barely be seen through all of the blood. I have never seen Ty in action but, I knew it would be bad when I did. He fights like he was trained to do so.

"Please stop." My works come out in a croak, my bottom lip trembles and I stare at him with eyes filled with despair. Ty pushes me hard enough that I fall towards the wall, I feel my head make contact and my vision blurs. I blink hard trying to clear it, I watch Damien try to flip Ty off of him. Ty's hands wrap around Damien's throat, I want to look away but I can't.

I hear a ringing in my ears as Damien's eyes flutter, I realize that it is my own screaming. I scream at Tyler to stop.

"Tyler please, you promised you wouldn't kill him, I came here with you to keep him safe."

"That was before he decided to fucking stop by." Tyler speaks through his teeth as his hands don't leave Damien's neck. I watch as his eyes finally close, his chest ceases to rise and Tyler leans back. He stares down at Damien, he runs a bloodied and bruised hand through his hair. My lip trembles as I stare down at the boy I have faught so hard to keep safe. I don't cry, I just stare at him, completely numb. Tyler stands up and walks towards me, he yanks me up by my arm until I am at my feet. He leans down so our eyes are on the same level and places a hand behind my neck.

"How did he fucking get here."

"I...I don't know." Tyler groans and slams a hand on the side of the wall by my face. I jump and close my eyes thinking he was aiming for my face. I feel the tears begin to fall and he leas his head over touching his forehead to mine.

"I'm sorry Ash."

I stay there frozen in fear, letting him lean against me and catch his breath. I have bit the inside of my cheek so much all it's been doing is bleed. Ty stands up straight and backs away from me, he turns and stares down at Damien.

"I'll deal with this, why don't you go downstairs okay."

I manage a nod and walk out of the room, my legs feel heavy as if I am walking in water. I walk into the kitchen and sit down at the table. I stare down at the grain in the wood, following the different lines with my eyes.

ne?

I don't know how long Ty was up there, alone coming up with a plan to get rid of Damien and clean up the bedroom. He comes down with something wrapped in a sheet, I close my eyes and try to pretend it isn't ther man I love. It was dark by the time he was finished in the room, I don't ask him where he's taking Damien. I keep my eyes on the grain of wood on the table. I focus on keeping my breathing slow

, trying to stay calm.

I am still in the same spot when Ty gets back, he walks in and sighs when he sees me. I barely notice his movements as he walks over to me. He pulls me up and out of the chair, I close my eyes and rest my

feet.

head against his chest. He walks me to our bedroom, as he steps in the scent of cleaner fills my nose. I scrunch my nose and try to focus on anything else. He walks into the bathroom and sets me down on my

"I know this was hard for you baby,

let me help you forget." He starts the shower and finds the right

temperature before turning back to look at me. I look up at him and meet his eyes, concern is set deep in the lines of his forehead and the blue of his eyes. I step closer to him and let him remove the sweater m wearing. His fingers linger on the delicate skin of my ribs, I shiver at his touch. I remove my own pants as Ty gets undressed. He grabs my hand and pulls me into the shower with him, he lets me under the water first. He rubs my back as the hot water hits me. I lean back into him, letting the water warm me. Ty grabs the body wash and begins lathering it onto my skin, he massages it into my shoulders and I let myself relax into his touch. I let myself forget about everything that happened in this room, I focus on his touch and the smell of the soap that covers the bleach scent.

Once all the soap is washed away, we switch and Ty stands under the water. I lather him with the soap, I look away from the drain as the water turns a odd shade of brown. I ignore the fact that its a mixture of blood and dirt. I finish washing Ty and he shuts the water off.

We both climb out of the shower and dry off with towels, I follow Ty into the bedroom. We both climb into the bed, Ty pulls me in close to his body. I relax against him and let our bodies fit together. He wraps his arms around me, I close my eyes and wish for a dreamless sleep.