Chapter 55 TRAUMAS OF THE PAST
“Patrick, if you want to stay away from me after what I tell you... Promise me you'll let me quit and leave?” Turning her body with heavy eyes, Elisabeth looked determined.
“I promise that no matter what you say, I'm not going anywhere!” I smiled, caressing her cold, wet cheeks.
“You say that because you don't know everything...” She sighed, gathering courage. “I was once engaged, but not in the way all women dream of... The person I shared my adolescence with until the beginning of adulthood was simply a monster in disguise, which I had the misfortune of discovering in the worst way.
Lis sobbed a few times with her back to me. I adjusted myself, pressing my chest against her back and running my nails along her arms in a caress, making her comfortable enough to continue with her real nightmare.
“The jealousy and possessiveness started to increase in college. I thought it was just a phase, maybe even hormones... I don't know, I didn't want to see the signs.” Slapping her forehead with her open hand, she spoke. “I was so stupid, so stupid and foolish!
I held her hand, intertwining it with mine, pulling her body back, and pressing her against my chest.
“You were a teenager; we don't know anything at that age.” I said it calmly.
“But I should have; he started stalking me after college, then after work... With absurd suspicions, until the first assault, when he swore it would never happen again, he proposed it as a way to redeem himself and fulfill my dream of getting married.” A spasm passed through Elisabeth's body, and I kissed the top of her head.
“But the assaults didn't stop, did they?” I closed my eyes, trying to contain the anger burning in my chest, inhaling the scent of her hair to re-center myself.
“No, after he joined the CIA academy and secured a career there, everything got drastically worse.... All my steps were tracked, my phone was bugged, and the physical and psychological assaults became more frequent and intense until I decided to put an end to it.” Another sob escaped Elisabeth's lips. “And then he went after my grandmother, causing an 'accident.' The bastard called me from her house, saying she had fallen down the stairs because of me. That was when I knew exactly what had happened and how much danger we were in!
“I'm so sorry...” I held her tighter.
“Me too...” Lis rubbed her eyes, holding her breath and then exhaling strongly. “So he wouldn't touch my grandmother again; we went to live together. What should have been my home became my prison. I couldn't leave unless it was with him, wearing clothes he chose. I couldn't speak or look in anyone's direction. Any man who tried to make contact, even out of politeness, had his life taken, and I was punished in unimaginable ways.
“Elisabeth… How was he never arrested?” I asked, shocked by the hell this beautiful woman had endured.
“The bastard was good at his job, with strong contacts in intelligence. They covered up his crimes because he cleaned up our government's mess.” Clenching her fists, Lis trembled nervously.
“When did you decide to run away?” I clenched my teeth in fury.
“One night, during one of his fits of rage and psychopathy... He tied me up and tortured me for hours, cutting me in intimate places and causing severe bleeding.” Elisabeth began to cry uncontrollably.
“You don't need to continue...” I turned her to face me. Lis buried her face in my chest, gripping my arms tightly.
“Yes, I do...I need to get out what he did to me!” She screamed in desperation. “I was pregnant, and his outburst was out of jealousy for his own child, who, according to that damn monster, would take me from him.”
“Damn sicko!” I growled, losing control, running my fingers through her hair.
“After the bleeding, he had no choice but to take me to the hospital...I was hospitalized for a few days, and police officers came to visit me with many questions that I was afraid to answer, fearing my grandmother would be taken from me.” Lifting her head slowly, she dried her sad eyes, and I caressed her face. “A few days after I was discharged, I received a call from the hospital. I begged him to take me there, and the doctor told us my grandmother’s diagnosis...Then he said she would take up a lot of my time due to her illness, and that he would get rid of this burden in my life!”
“BASTARD!” I shouted, unable to contain myself, punching the mattress.
Instinctively, Elisabeth backed away, frightened.
“Forgive me, Elisabeth; I didn't mean to scare you.” I pulled her into the warmth of my body. Reluctantly, she continued.
“I managed, with great effort, to sell some things secretly to neighbors, pretending to be the perfect wife without questioning or complaining, letting him do whatever he wanted.” Lis paused, smiling nervously. “One day, I pretended to be extremely ill. The bastard was on a mission, so the guard had no choice but to take me to the hospital. I paid the nurse to cover up my absence, saying I was undergoing tests. On the same day, I had scheduled my grandmother’s appointment. With the help of the medical team who had treated so many of my wounds, I managed to escape with my grandmother and start over.”
“That's why you still live haunted... He is chasing you!” I sighed, determined to eliminate this bastard once and for all.
“Yes, I started moving from city to city, searching for new beginnings, but he always got close. When I arrived in Seattle with a new identity, my grandmother's illness had progressed significantly, and I had to settle into a well-paying job to afford her nursing home.” Lis smiled hopefully. “In five years, this monster hasn't found me, so I finally feel like I can start over and be happy... But you need to know and understand the risks of being with me. If he finds me and knows about us, your life will also be in danger.”
“I accept the risks!” I replied firmly, leaving no doubt about my decision. “Elisabeth, I need this bastard's full name, so I can put an end to this.”
“Are you crazy? No, you are not going to confront him!” She stood up nervously, biting her nails. “I didn't tell you this for you to start a fight. I won't let him hurt you or find me.”
“You need to trust me...” I started, but she cut me off.
“No, promise me you won't go after my past, or we will end what we have!” Elisabeth trembled, her eyes full of determination.
I ran my hands nervously through my hair, turning my face away in frustration.
“Okay!” was all I could say, lying. “In any case, I'm not going anywhere.”