by Bella King
“Fucking bitch,” James shrieked as he pulled his hand away. There was blood oozing from his split knuckles, but the glass on the truck was still intact.
I wouldn’t be able to outrun him, but maybe I could fight him off long enough for Oliver to arrive. I yelled his name again, as loud as my lungs would allow. My voice burned in my throat and prompted James to sprint toward me.
I was tackled to the ground, fists flying again. James grabbed my hands and pulled them away from my face, punching me as hard as he could. I yelped as I felt the impact of his bloody knuckled on my own flesh and bone. I was going to die in the street at the hands of my abusive ex-boyfriend.
Chapter 25
I heard a heavy impact against James as Oliver flew into him at superhuman speed. James' limbs went flying into the air as he was taken down by a man much larger and more powerful than he was.
I turned to the side, one eye already swollen shut, and watched Oliver beat the living shit out of James. He pummeled every ounce of life from James’ already limp body, not stopping until he thought he might be dead.
I climbed up to my feet, my body aches, and my lungs burning as I pulled in short breaths of crisp air. Oliver and I were alive, but I wasn’t sure if James was.
“Call the police,” I said, coughed and holding my side.
Oliver climbed off James. I could barely recognize James’ face anymore. It was a bloody mess. “You know, it’s a good thing I have a dashcam. I think assault is a much worse crime than criminal entry,” Oliver said, walking back toward me. “Are you alright?”
I shrugged. “I’ve felt worse.”
“I need to go back and get my phone, but I don’t want to leave this moron bleeding all over the pavement. Can you run and grab it?” Oliver asked.
I nodded. “I’ll be back.”
I took off into the woods, glad that this whole crazy mess was almost over. With video from Oliver’s dashcam, James was done for, if he wasn’t already dead, that was. I really couldn’t tell from the beaten heap of flesh on the road.
Even though I was hurting badly, I felt relief knowing that everything was going to be okay. I had Oliver on my side, and James would never be able to mess with me after this. I was free.
The looming pines looked a lot friendly now in the dim like of dusk. I was alive, and that’s what mattered the most to me.
Epilogue
I adjusted the green graduation gown that covered my body. It would have been a little too long for me, but I had worn heels to compensate. I waited in line for my name to be called, nervously picking at the skin around my fingernails.
It was two years since James had his face smashed in my Oliver, and he had ended up with a lengthy prison sentence for assault, conspiracy to kidnap, and whatever other minuscule charges that would stick and make his sentence longer. I couldn’t even feel bad for James. He deserved to be locked away for as long as they could justify it. In my eyes, that was forever.
I walked out onto the stage as soon as I heard the announcer say my name. I felt everything at that moment. I felt pride at having graduated top of my class, I felt love for Oliver’s support and encouragement to get me there, and I felt grateful for the life that I was so fortunate to have. The first few years of adulthood may have been rough, but things were only getting better.
I saw Oliver’s crooked smile gleaming from the crowd. He was already standing and applauding for me before I even appeared on the stage to accept my degree and shake the dean’s hand. I blew him a kiss as I walked across the stage.
Oliver had another semester left of school, but we planned on moving in with his grandmother until she passed away. After that, we would be heading out across the country to do some traveling before settling down together.
Oliver was everything that a man should be. He was gentle, but firm when he needed to be. He was rugged and sexually exciting. He was intelligent and hard-working. He was mine.
I shook hands with the dean of Briarwood, smiling out into the crowd of people who supported me. Mia was there, clapping her hands and jumping up and down beside Oliver. Those two were my everything.
I was proud of myself that I never let James win against me. He had done a lot of damage, but he had also brought Oliver into my life, and in a fucked up kind of way, I had to thank him for that. If it wasn’t for James, Oliver and I would have never ended up together.
Good riddance, James, but thank you for the pain and suffering you put me through. It’s how I know that Oliver is the right man for me. It’s why I love him so dearly, and why he loves me back. So, James, fuck you, but thank you.
The End.
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