Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-One
Lisa felt like she was suffocating, like she was losing herself in the process. Rachel's words stung, but deep down, she knew her friend was right.

As she stood there, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Marcus's name flashing on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should answer it. But something inside her snapped, and she decided to answer it, her tone icy.

"What's up?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Marcus's voice came through the phone, smooth and charming. "Hey, baby. I was thinking we could grab breakfast tomorrow? Maybe try that new restaurant you wanted to check out."

Lisa's anger flared up again. Who was he to call her now, after what had just happened? She took a deep breath and spoke, her voice firm.

"Marcus, I need some space. I don't think I can do this anymore."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What are you talking about, Lisa? What's going on?"

Lisa's laughter was bitter. "You know exactly what's going on, Marcus. You're suffocating me. You think you own me. I'm done."

Rachel stood outside the door, her chest heaving with exertion, still fuming from the argument. She heard Lisa's muffled voice through the phone, her tone rising in anger and desperation.

"No, Marcus, stop! I don't belong to you!" Lisa's voice was like a scream, shrill and loud, piercing through the walls. Rachel's eyes widened as she listened, her anger momentarily forgotten. She could hear Marcus's voice on the other end, cold and calculating, trying to assert his dominance.

"You are mine, Lisa. You will do as I say. Don't even try to resist," Marcus's voice was like a growl, sending shivers down Rachel's spine. Lisa's laughter was maniacal. "No, Marcus! I won't be controlled! I won't be owned!"

Rachel's heart ached as she listened to her friend’s desperation. She knew she had to intervene, but she was frozen in shock, unsure of what to do. The phone conversation continued, with Marcus becoming increasingly aggressive, his words dripping with venom. Lisa's resistance was like a spark, fueling his anger and possessiveness.

"You think you can leave me? You think you can say no to me?" Marcus's voice was like a whip, cracking through the phone. Lisa's continued, her voice almost like a cry for help. "I don't want to be with you anymore, Marcus. Leave me alone!"

Marcus's laughter was cold, sending chills down Rachel's spine. "You can't leave me, Lisa. You're mine. I'll come for you. I'll make sure you don't leave me."

The phone went dead, and the silence that followed was oppressive. Rachel stood there, her heart racing, her mind racing with worry. She slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open, her eyes scanning the room for Lisa.

Lisa was sitting on the bed, her phone still clenched in her hand, her eyes wide with fear. Rachel's heart ached as she saw the look on her face. She rushed to Lisa's side, wrapping her arms around her.

"It's okay, Lisa. I'm here. You're safe," Rachel whispered, trying to comfort her.

Lisa's body shook with sobs as she buried her face in Rachel's shoulder. "He's going to come for me, Rach. I'm scared."

Rachel's grip on Lisa tightened. "No one's going to hurt you, Lisa. I won't let them. We'll get through this together."


Lisa sat in the living room, her eyes gazing into the distance as she grappled with a mix of emotions. Rachel was busy in the kitchen, cracking eggs into a bowl for breakfast, when she heard Lisa's phone ring in the living room. She glanced over to see Lisa's expression change from brooding to surprise as she looked at the screen.

It had been a tumultuous encounter, with Emma revealing her pregnancy amidst the tension that lingered from their cancelled trip. Lisa had meant to reach out, to offer support and check in on her, but life had gotten in the way. Her own struggles had taken center stage, and Emma's call had slipped her mind.

As the phone continued to ring, Lisa's thoughts swirled with regret and concern. How was Emma doing? Had she been okay after the shock of the pregnancy? The unanswered questions gnawed at her, and with a deep breath, she picked up the call.

"Hey, Emma," Lisa said, her voice tinged with a mix of guilt and genuine concern.

There was a brief pause on the other end, and for a moment, Lisa wondered if she'd made a mistake by answering. But then Emma's voice came through, warm and weary.

"Lisa, hi. I was starting to think you'd written me off," Emma said, a hint of a joke in her tone, but underlying it, a thread of vulnerability.

Lisa's guilt deepened. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I've been dealing with a lot, and I shouldn't have let things slide. How are you?" She listened intently as Emma began to talk about Mike and their relationship, her words painting a picture of a woman trying to navigate uncertainty with a mix of hope.

‘’Enough about me, how’s life been treating you?" Emma's bubbly voice came through the phone, and Rachel saw Lisa's expression soften.

Lisa sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. "Ehm, I've been okay, Em. How about you? How's... everything?" Lisa's voice trailed off, and Emma knew she was referring to her pregnancy.

Emma laughed, and it sounded genuine. "I'm doing alright, thanks for asking! The pregnancy's been a rollercoaster, but I'm managing. I was just wondering if you wanted to grab coffee sometime? Catch up?"

Lisa hesitated, and Rachel could see the wheels turning in her head. She was probably thinking about Marcus and everything that had happened.

"Sure, Em. That sounds nice," Lisa finally said, her voice a bit more upbeat.

Rachel smiled, happy to see Lisa's mood lifting. She went back to cooking, listening to Lisa chat with Emma, making plans to meet up.

As Lisa hung up the phone, Rachel called out, "Who was that?’’

Lisa looked up, a small smile on her face. "Remember Emma? We met at Jamie’s."

Rachel's eyes lit up. ‘’Oh! Right! It’ll be nice to catch up.’’

Lisa nodded, and for the first time in days, she looked like herself again. "Yeah, we're gonna meet up soon."