Girl Interrupted

Her parents tried to warn her about him. All along they saw what her innocence had shrouded. Barely 18 years old and far from home...Mommy and Daddy couldn't help her out of this one.

She was in her dorm room alone with him...her heart was pounding. She wondered if he could hear it, too. She could feel the cold, hard cement wall against her back. His cold, hard fist was clenched around her throat. She was used to looking up to meet his eyes, but not now. He had lifted her off of her feet and she was eye level with him.

She had looked into his eyes many times over the years and had never seen them look like this. She searched his eyes for something familiar, something soft. His breath was quick and shallow, his muscular arms quivered. Her eyes darted back and forth between his...searching...still searching...for something...ANYTHING.

Her throat began to burn and she grew more and more light-headed. He squeezed his other hand tightly into a fist. He drew it back and his skin blanched as his knuckles bulged. She screamed...not out of fear or helplessness. The voice that spilled from her sounded determined, and powerful...it sounded strong. She wondered if he heard it, too.

Her mind raced. It replayed the warnings of her parents. She recalled concerned comments from friends. All the little signs that she missed, or was too blind to see, came flooding back to her.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, he loosened his grip on her neck and dropped his clenched fist to his side. Her feet welcomed the ground beneath her. He walked to the door and without looking back...he left. She slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her bent knees.

As she began to press herself up from the ground, she was surprised by what she felt. It wasn't fear, or anger, or bitterness...it was peace. He was gone...and there would never be another like him.