Aurora Magazine 2020

Aurora fumbling to walk and Harry holding me up, loading into a cab, and driving off. After that, I was discovered at 4:39 a.m. in Mulberry Park covered in dirt, blood, and vomit. My crime was standard for the area, but I never once thought it would happen to me. A week passed before I was discharged from the hospital to be sent home. Stacy gave detailed instructions on how to care for my wounds, and I was to return in a few weeks to be checked on my progress. I was also told a caseworker would be in touch with me soon to set up counseling appointments at the local therapy office. Harry was still heavy on my mind and heart, but not in the same way. A lot of my time spent in the hospital bed was on planning. Planning my revenge on Harry no matter what the police told me. They had not yet found his location and evidence at the scene had all been collected, leaving me to sit like a duck and wait. Waiting was never a strong suit of mine. In my room upstairs I was confronted by the reality. Thousands of pictures of Harry stared back at me from my wall. Pictures that once held so much sentimental value to me, now looked like obituaries. My stomach began to heave at the thought of his hands on my flesh, caressing my shoulders, as I had dreamed of so many times. He betrayed my trust, took advantage of my love, and groomed me so he could hurt me. The anger shot out like lightning bolts from my hands, compelling me to destroy everything he attached himself to. Picture shreds fell to the floor all around me like confetti. Shredding, pulling, tearing, screaming, crying, bleeding. Every gift he sent me was now pitched out the window, crashing on the sidewalk below. My eyes were seeing red, and I lost complete control. Harry took control from me, and now, I had to gain it back.

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