Page 5 of Mine To Possess
I try to throw him off, but it’s like he’s made of wet sand. His weight holds me in place, and he grabs my flailing arms. He pushes my hands together over my head and holds them in place with one large fist.
I’m screaming now, shouting for help at the top of my lungs, but I don’t know how much good it will do. Our neighbors tend to keep to themselves, not getting into each other’s business. And no one around here will call the police. Not if they don’t want their windows smashed in as a paint can comes crashing through.
Dan is slobbering over my neck. It’s only a matter of time until he goes further. My screams are doing nothing to stop him.
“Dan. Get off her right now,” my mom commands suddenly from the bedroom door.
My scream freezes in my throat and Dan jumps up like I’m a bed of hot coals.
“Oh, Mom,” I whispered, pulling my legs together, relief flooding into me.
Tears run freely down my cheeks now. My mom is here. Everything is going to be okay. She can see what a creep Dan is. She’ll get rid of him, and it’ll go back to just being the two of us. We’ll find another little apartment, but now that I can bring in money too, we’ll make it work.
“You just couldn’t see me happy, could you, Amelia?” my mom asks.
For a second it doesn’t compute. I shake my head in confusion and shock. “What?” I blurt out.
“How could you?” she screams suddenly.
“Mom…”
“Don’t you want me to be happy?” she whispers, her voice suddenly breaking.
Happy? Am I stuck in a nightmare? “Mom, he’s a fucking useless alcoholic who just tried to rape your daughter.”
“You seduced me,” Dan mutters, all the slur gone from his voice.
“Shut up,” Mom throws at him viciously before she turns on me again. “You walk around here in your little outfits, begging for Dan’s attention,” my mom accuses, mirroring Dan’s untrue observation about my skimpy attire. “But I let it go. I told myself you were just seeking attention. You wouldn’t actually try to steal my man, but?”
“Steal your man? Can you hear yourself, Mom? You’re delusional.” I look Dan up and down and shake my head. “You think I want to stealhim? I wouldn’t have him if he was the last man on earth.”
Mom steps forward and slaps me hard across the face, leaving behind a stinging, burning patch.
“Show a little respect,” she snaps, her face white with anger and hurt.
Dan grins, triumphant. I have no idea how this has happened. My mom came home and literally caught Dan trying to force himself onto me, and somehow, it’s my fault?
“Mom, you heard me screaming,” I plead. “Why would I have been screaming if I wanted this?”
My mom pauses for a second and then the hard look on her face softens.
“You’re a pretty girl, Amelia, and you like to show yourself off. It would be a strange man that didn’t find you attractive. Maybe you’re just naïve and didn’t know this would happen. This is my fault. I should have warned you what you were doing. You need to be more considerate of Dan’s feelings.”
“It’s not your fault, Vi,” Dan says quickly. “It’s hers. She’s been flirting with me ever since you two moved in here. I should have said something, but I didn’t want to hurt you.”
My mom shakes her head and sighs. “I know it’s been hard for you.”
“I love you, babe,” he says pathetically.
Mom nods. “I love you too, hon. Let’s just put this behind us, ok? Amelia, apologize to Dan, then you can go and start peeling the potatoes.”
I just stare at her, my jaw hanging open. This betrayal is too much. I almost can’t recognize my mom. Does she really want me to apologize to him knowing what he just tried to do to me? Well, maybe it’s ok with her, but I know I’m sure as hell NOT going to apologize to Dan.
“Amelia?” Mom prompts.
I stare at her defiantly.
“It’s ok, Vi,” Dan says sweetly. He puts his meaty hand on her shoulder, and she looks at him. “Give her some time to think about this. She’ll come around. Right, Amelia?”