Green Eyes

1

Green Eyes 2

I lay there for a while wanting to make sure he was gone. I pulled up my jeans and walked into 3

the kitchen on wobbly legs. I reached for the phone and sank down against the cabinets. I called the police and tried to remain calm as I told them what happened. I heard sirens not too long after I hung the phone up. I started crying. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I looked at the clock on the stove. Twelve fifteen. There was a loud banging on the front door.4

“Police, ma’am! Open the door!” I ran to the door, opening it quickly.5

“Where is he?” one of the officers asked. He had his gun drawn.6

“He ran through the neighbor’s backyard,” I said.7

The officers headed out the back door and the EMTs entered the living room. They escorted me to the ambulance. As I lay on the stretcher I thought about Jason. How was I going to tell him what happened?8

At the hospital after I was settled into a room I asked the nurse to call Jason. While I waited for Jason to get there the doctor did a rape kit. I also talked to the police again.9

Jason got there around one a.m.After the police verified who he was they let him in. I couldn’t look at him. He sat on the edge of the bed and held my hand.10

“Sara, what happened?” he asked.11

After what seemed like hours I managed to say it. “I was raped.”12

“What?”13

“I was raped,” I said feeling sick. “After you left I went outside to smoke. And when I started back inside someone grabbed my arm. He threw me on the ground and slapped me.” I stopped for a second and looked at Jason. His face was pale and he had a strange look. I continued telling him what happened.14

“After he threw me on the ground he ripped my sweater and pulled my jeans off. And then … it happened,” I said tears filling my eyes.15

“Oh, Sara.I’m so sorry,” Jason, said holding my hand tighter. 16

“If I hadn’t been outside this wouldn’t have happened.”17

“Don’t blame yourself Sara,” he said. “I’m going to find who did this to you and when I do God help him.”18

“Jason don’t do anything stupid,” I said. I squeezed his hand.19

“I can’t make any promises, Sara,” he said as he stood up.20

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”21

“I’ll be in the hall.”22

I changed into the T-shirt and pants the nurse had left for me. The police took my clothes for evidence. I walked out to the hallway and found Jason talking to the police. 23

He saw me and asked, “Are you ready?”24

I nodded and we went out to his truck. We didn’t say anything on the way to his house. I replayed it over. It didn’t seem real. It was like a sick dream.25

I had been sitting on the back porch smoking and looking at bridal magazines. (Jason had proposed last week.) I had glanced at my watch. It was past ten so I decided to go in and get ready fro bed. As I started through the backdoor someone grabbed my arm. I screamed. I turned around face to face with a man wearing a ball cap, which was pulled down hiding his face.26

“Let me go!” I screamed, trying to break free. He grabbed my other arm and pinned me against the doorframe.27

“Be quite and you won’t get hurt, Sara,” he said roughly. He shoved me to the ground, ripping my sweater open. He started kissing me. I screamed again and he slapped me. I was crying and tried to wiggle away. He got on top of me, shoving my jeans down and tearing my panties was still struggling to get him off me, so he grabbed my hair and banged my head on the ground a couple of times. I thought my head would explode. After I stopped moving he entered me. I let out a whimper of pain and scratched at his face, which caused him to slap me again.28

“Stop it, Sara. It’ll be over in a few minutes,” he growled.29

I quit struggling and prayed it’d be over soon. I looked at the tattoo on his left arm. It was a red and black dragon with brilliant green eyes. I focused on that.30

After what seemed like an eternity he got off me and pulled his pants up. He reached down and grabbed my necklace. “A little something to remember our night,”he said. “You were better than I imagined you would be sweet Sara.” He laughed wickedly and disappeared through the neighbor’s yard.31

We got to Jason’s house around three a.m.I lay down on the couch and curled into a ball. Jason sat in the floor next to the couch. We didn’t say anything for a while.32

I finally broke the silence. “Jason this guy knew my name. He said it several times,” I said. “But I didn’t recognize his voice.33

“Do you reme 34

mber anything else about him?”35

“He was taller than you. He was wearing a ball cap. I didn’t really see his face. And he had a dragon tattoo. He just appeared from beside the door,” I said. “I don’t know when I can go back to my house.’36

“You’re not going back there. You’ll stay with me. I should’ve been there with you and this wouldn’t have happened,” Jason said as he got up. “I need a drink.”37

He went to the kitchen. I closed my eyes and finally fell asleep.38

When I woke up it was ten thirty. Jason was on the phone. He saw me sit up and closed his cell phone. “How are you felling?”39

“I have a terrible headache,” I said. “Why aren’t you at work?”40

“Are you serious? I’m not leaving you alone. I just called your parents. They’ll be here in a few hours,” Jason said sitting down beside me.41

“Why did you call them?”42

“I thought they should know.”43

“I was going to call them later after I had time to figure out how to tell them,” I said standing. “I’m going to take a shower.”44

The hot water felt good, but I knew it wouldn’t wash away the empty feeling I had. I felt sick and angry. Started crying and hit the glass shower door with my fists. I had this incredible anger at myself and the sick freak that did this to me.45

I got out when the water turned cold and put on Jason’s robe. I went to the living room. Jason was on the phone again.46

“Who’s on the phone?”47

“Kristi. She called your house and your cell this morning. Then she just called me. She’s worried about you. Do you want to talk to her?”48

I shook my head. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone.49

Jason mumbled something into the phone and hung up. “You want something to eat?”50

I shook myheadno. 51

“How about some tea?”52

“Yeah,” I said sinking down on the couch.53

Jason disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later carrying a black mug. “Your favorite, white raspberry.”54

“Thanks,” I said taking the mug. I took a long sip. “Jason, I’m sorry.”55

“Sara, you don’t have anything to be sorry for. It wasn’t your fault, okay? Don’t think that,” he said. He sat down beside me. I put my head on his chest and started crying. He held me for a long time.56

The phone ringing startled both of us. Jason grabbed it. It was the police. They had a couple of suspects they wanted me to look at. I told Jason that I hadn’t really seen the guy’s face.57

“We’ll go down anyway and take a look, okay?”He said.58

I nodded and went to the bedroom to change.59

We spent an hour at the police station. I looked at the suspects. He wasn’t there.60

After we left the police station I had Jason stop by my house. The police had crime scene tape across the front door. I tore through it and went inside. I gathered some of my things quickly and we left.61

I called my parents when we got back to Jason’s house. They were still in Tennessee. There had been a rockslide and they wouldn’t be able to get through until tomorrow. I talked them into going back home after about an hour. I told them there was nothing they could do any way.62

Around six o’clock Jason ordered Chinese. While we ate I thought about the guy and that tattoo. It would be embedded in my mind forever. I wondered how I was going to make it through this.63

I slept on the couch while Jason slept in the chair. He refused to leave me alone.64

A loud banging woke me. I looked at the clock. Five fifteen. It was Jason in the kitchen. He was slamming dishes in the sink.65

“Hey,” I said forcing a small smile.66

“Sorry about the nosie. Coffee?” he said.67

“Sure,” I said. “Are you going to work?”68

“No. I’m staying with you.”69

“No, you’re going to work. So am I,” I said taking a drink of coffee.70

“Are you sure you should?”71

“Look Jason, I can’t sit around here forever. I need to occupy my mind.”72

“If you’re sure.”73

“I’m sure. Drop me at my house so I can get my truck,” I said. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”74

We stopped at my house and I got in my truck. I glanced at my house and shivered. I pulled out behind Jason and drove to the dry cleaners where I worked. I didn’t say much to anyone all morning. I had explained to my boss over the phone the day before what had happened. He told me to take all the time I needed. I figured I’d be better off working.75

I looked at the male customers closely, wondering if any one of them could be the guy. 76

I went through the next few days in a haze. I was supposed to go to a counselor. I kept putting it off. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want want to talk about it either.77

I decided to postpone the wedding. Jason told me to take all the time I needed, that he would be there when I was ready. I slowly withdrew from him and my friends. I quit calling them and didn’t take calls from them. I also quit taking classes at college. I felt like I couldn’t deal with that.78

I started working out three days a week and took a self-defense class. I didn’t go out after dark anymore. I had the locks changed four times and bars placed over the windows. I knew I was being paranoid but I didn’t want to take any chances. I was becoming bitter. When I closed my eyes that night would replay over and over. I kept seeing that dragon tattoo. The green eyes from that dragon haunted me.79

At work (when I did go) I stayed in the back doing the dry-cleaning instead working the counter in the front. I was afraid he might come in. I started wearing baggy clothes and kept my hair pulled back. I didn’t want to attract attention to myself.80

I felt like I was barely alive inside. Most days I felt empty then angry and sad. I wanted to move on, but I felt like I was trapped in that moment, defenseless at the hands of the rapist. It was the most sickening feeling I ever had and I just couldn’t shake it.81

A couple of months after the attack I started watching Law and Order: SVU. At first it was hard watching the show. It brought back that night vividly. But then something deep inside me told me that I needed help, that I could move past this. So I kept watching and I saw what happened to some of the victims, how they were paralyzed with fear. But others fought back. They took control of their lives and got justice for what happened to them. That’s when I decided I was going to take control back of my life. I wasn’t going to let this man continue to have power over me any longer.82

Thursday morning around nine thirty I called the rape counselor’s office and made an appointment for that afternoon. I also called my parents and then Jason. I felt a new sense of being, like things were going to be okay.83

The meeting with the counselor was difficult, but I made it through with a lot of crying and some yelling. I already felt a little better. Later that afternoon I met Jason at our favorite coffee shop. It was the first time I had been out for several weeks and also the first time I had seen Jason in weeks. We sat by the window, sipping coffee. He smiled at me warmly. I had missed his bright blue eyes and sweet smile. He had grown a goatee and cut his hair differently. I liked it.84

“How was your meeting?” he asked as he reached across the table for my hand.85

“It was rough,” I said. “But I do feel better. I should’ve done these months ago. I lost a lot of time because of fear. But now I’m not afraid. I’m sorry Jason.”86

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I’m glad to see you, Sara.I missed you so much,” Jason said. He kissed my hand lightly.87

“I missed you, too. Thank you for being so understanding.”88

“No problem, sweetheart.”89

“Well. We need to make plans,” I said smiling.90

“Plans?”91

“For our wedding,” I said as I finished my second coffee.92

“Are you sure?” he asked excitedly.93

“Yes. I don’t want to wait any longer.”94

“This is great,” Jason said smiling.95

We discussed the date, the guest list, the church and some other things. We left the coffee shop and went to his place. Jason cooked us dinner and we talked for a while. Around ten I told him I needed to get going.96

He walked me to my truck and opened the door.97

“I’ll drop by tomorrow, okay?” I said as I started the truck.98

“Okay. See ya then. I love you, Sara.”99

“I love you, too.” 100

As I drove home I felt like a weight had been lifted from me.101

The next day on my lunch break I stopped by Satin and Pearls wedding planners. I picked up some color and invitation samples that I wanted Jason to look at. Then I headed over to Lou’s Garage where Jason works. I parked in the front lot and walked through the main office waving at Lou. I went out to the shop and saw Jason working on a black BMW.102

“Hey J,”I said standing beside the car.103

He rose up from under the hood. “Hey babe. How are you?”104

“Good. I brought some samples I want you to look at later. I’ll put them in the truck.”105

“Truck’s out back,” Jason said.106

I walked through the shop and waved at the guys working there. I opened Jason’s truck door and put the samples on the seat. As I walked past a dark blue Toyota a necklace around the mirror caught my attention. It was a blue bead necklace with two pink beads in the middle. It looked like the one my mom had given me when I was a teenager. I had never taken it off. I flashed back to the night I was attacked. I saw the guy ripping it off my neck. I felt a knot forming in my stomach. I walked back inside and went over to Jason.107

“You okay? You look like you saw a ghost,” Jason said.108

“Whose blue truck is that outback?”109

“Tony’s. Why?” Jason said.110

“The necklace around the mirror looks like mine.”111

“What?”112

“Jason, just go look at it,” I said.113

“Okay.” We went out back and Jason opened the truck door. He grabbed the necklace and handed it to me.114

“Jason, that’s mine,” I said feeling lightheaded. “How did Tony get it?” Then an awful thought struck me. “Oh God, no,” I said out loud. “Jason, it was Tony.”115

“What?”116

“It was Tony. He was the one who raped me,” I said. I thought I was going to pass out.117

“Are you sure?”118

“It had to be him. How else would he have gotten my necklace?”119

“I’m going to find out right now what is going on,” Jason said, anger filling his voice.120

He stomped through the shop yelling for Tony. He came out of the parts room.121

“Hey man. What’s going on?” Tony said.122

“Where did you get this?” Jason asked shoving the necklace in his face.123

“Some chick gave it to me.”124

“You’re lying! “Jason yelled.125

“Man, I ‘m telling the truth,” Tony said.126

Jason grabbed Tony’s shirt.127

“Let go of me!” Tony yelled.128

“Sure,” Jason said as he let go of his shirt. Then he punched Tony in the face. Jason kept hitting him. “It was you, wasn’t it? You piece of trash! I’ll kill you!” Jason yelled as a couple of the guys pulled them apart.129

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re losing your mind, man.”130

As Tony turned to leave I saw a dragon tattoo on his left arm. It was red and black with green eyes.131

“Jason, it’s him! His tattoo, it’s a dragon. It’s him,” I screamed.132

Jason broke free from the guys and went after Tony. He tackled him to the floor and starting hitting him. Lou came running out of the office. “What in the world is going on?”133

“It’s Tony! He’s the one who raped me. Call the police,” I yelled. Lou ran to the office and called the police.134

The guys had pulled Jason and Tony apart again. They were still holding them when the police arrived. They cuffed Tony and Jason. I started explaining about the necklace and the tattoo and the rape.135

Before the police led Tony out, I looked at him. “Why? ”I asked.136

“I love you, Sara. I just wanted to be with you. You never knew I existed until that night,” he said. He had a wild look in his eyes.137

“You’re crazy,” I said watching the police lead him outside.138

The police let Jason go and he came over to me. He hugged me tightly. “It’s over now,” he said.139

“Yeah,” I said as I watched the police car drive away.140

I lay there for a while wanting to make sure he was gone. I pulled up my jeans and walked into 141

the kitchen on wobbly legs. I reached for the phone and sank down against the cabinets. I called the police and tried to remain calm as I told them what happened. I heard sirens not too long after I hung the phone up. I started crying. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I looked at the clock on the stove. Twelve fifteen. There was a loud banging on the front door.142

“Police, ma’am! Open the door!” I ran to the door, opening it quickly.143

“Where is he?” one of the officers asked. He had his gun drawn.144

“He ran through the neighbor’s backyard,” I said.145

The officers headed out the back door and the EMTs entered the living room. They escorted me to the ambulance. As I lay on the stretcher I thought about Jason. How was I going to tell him what happened?146

At the hospital after I was settled into a room I asked the nurse to call Jason. While I waited for Jason to get there the doctor did a rape kit. I also talked to the police again.147

Jason got there around one a.m.After the police verified who he was they let him in. I couldn’t look at him. He sat on the edge of the bed and held my hand.148

“Sara, what happened?” he asked.149

After what seemed like hours I managed to say it. “I was raped.”150

“What?”151

“I was raped,” I said feeling sick. “After you left I went outside to smoke. And when I started back inside someone grabbed my arm. He threw me on the ground and slapped me.” I stopped for a second and looked at Jason. His face was pale and he had a strange look. I continued telling him what happened.152

“After he threw me on the ground he ripped my sweater and pulled my jeans off. And then … it happened,” I said tears filling my eyes.153

“Oh, Sara.I’m so sorry,” Jason, said holding my hand tighter. 154

“If I hadn’t been outside this wouldn’t have happened.”155

“Don’t blame yourself Sara,” he said. “I’m going to find who did this to you and when I do God help him.”156

“Jason don’t do anything stupid,” I said. I squeezed his hand.157

“I can’t make any promises, Sara,” he said as he stood up.158

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”159

“I’ll be in the hall.”160

I changed into the T-shirt and pants the nurse had left for me. The police took my clothes for evidence. I walked out to the hallway and found Jason talking to the police. 161

He saw me and asked, “Are you ready?”162

I nodded and we went out to his truck. We didn’t say anything on the way to his house. I replayed it over. It didn’t seem real. It was like a sick dream.163

I had been sitting on the back porch smoking and looking at bridal magazines. (Jason had proposed last week.) I had glanced at my watch. It was past ten so I decided to go in and get ready fro bed. As I started through the backdoor someone grabbed my arm. I screamed. I turned around face to face with a man wearing a ball cap, which was pulled down hiding his face.164

“Let me go!” I screamed, trying to break free. He grabbed my other arm and pinned me against the doorframe.165

“Be quite and you won’t get hurt, Sara,” he said roughly. He shoved me to the ground, ripping my sweater open. He started kissing me. I screamed again and he slapped me. I was crying and tried to wiggle away. He got on top of me, shoving my jeans down and tearing my panties was still struggling to get him off me, so he grabbed my hair and banged my head on the ground a couple of times. I thought my head would explode. After I stopped moving he entered me. I let out a whimper of pain and scratched at his face, which caused him to slap me again.166

“Stop it, Sara. It’ll be over in a few minutes,” he growled.167

I quit struggling and prayed it’d be over soon. I looked at the tattoo on his left arm. It was a red and black dragon with brilliant green eyes. I focused on that.168

After what seemed like an eternity he got off me and pulled his pants up. He reached down and grabbed my necklace. “A little something to remember our night,”he said. “You were better than I imagined you would be sweet Sara.” He laughed wickedly and disappeared through the neighbor’s yard.169

We got to Jason’s house around three a.m.I lay down on the couch and curled into a ball. Jason sat in the floor next to the couch. We didn’t say anything for a while.170

I finally broke the silence. “Jason this guy knew my name. He said it several times,” I said. “But I didn’t recognize his voice.171

“Do you reme 172

mber anything else about him?”173

“He was taller than you. He was wearing a ball cap. I didn’t really see his face. And he had a dragon tattoo. He just appeared from beside the door,” I said. “I don’t know when I can go back to my house.’174

“You’re not going back there. You’ll stay with me. I should’ve been there with you and this wouldn’t have happened,” Jason said as he got up. “I need a drink.”175

He went to the kitchen. I closed my eyes and finally fell asleep.176

When I woke up it was ten thirty. Jason was on the phone. He saw me sit up and closed his cell phone. “How are you felling?”177

“I have a terrible headache,” I said. “Why aren’t you at work?”178

“Are you serious? I’m not leaving you alone. I just called your parents. They’ll be here in a few hours,” Jason said sitting down beside me.179

“Why did you call them?”180

“I thought they should know.”181

“I was going to call them later after I had time to figure out how to tell them,” I said standing. “I’m going to take a shower.”182

The hot water felt good, but I knew it wouldn’t wash away the empty feeling I had. I felt sick and angry. Started crying and hit the glass shower door with my fists. I had this incredible anger at myself and the sick freak that did this to me.183

I got out when the water turned cold and put on Jason’s robe. I went to the living room. Jason was on the phone again.184

“Who’s on the phone?”185

“Kristi. She called your house and your cell this morning. Then she just called me. She’s worried about you. Do you want to talk to her?”186

I shook my head. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone.187

Jason mumbled something into the phone and hung up. “You want something to eat?”188

I shook myheadno. 189

“How about some tea?”190

“Yeah,” I said sinking down on the couch.191

Jason disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later carrying a black mug. “Your favorite, white raspberry.”192

“Thanks,” I said taking the mug. I took a long sip. “Jason, I’m sorry.”193

“Sara, you don’t have anything to be sorry for. It wasn’t your fault, okay? Don’t think that,” he said. He sat down beside me. I put my head on his chest and started crying. He held me for a long time.194

The phone ringing startled both of us. Jason grabbed it. It was the police. They had a couple of suspects they wanted me to look at. I told Jason that I hadn’t really seen the guy’s face.195

“We’ll go down anyway and take a look, okay?”He said.196

I nodded and went to the bedroom to change.197

We spent an hour at the police station. I looked at the suspects. He wasn’t there.198

After we left the police station I had Jason stop by my house. The police had crime scene tape across the front door. I tore through it and went inside. I gathered some of my things quickly and we left.199

I called my parents when we got back to Jason’s house. They were still in Tennessee. There had been a rockslide and they wouldn’t be able to get through until tomorrow. I talked them into going back home after about an hour. I told them there was nothing they could do any way.200

Around six o’clock Jason ordered Chinese. While we ate I thought about the guy and that tattoo. It would be embedded in my mind forever. I wondered how I was going to make it through this.201

I slept on the couch while Jason slept in the chair. He refused to leave me alone.202

A loud banging woke me. I looked at the clock. Five fifteen. It was Jason in the kitchen. He was slamming dishes in the sink.203

“Hey,” I said forcing a small smile.204

“Sorry about the nosie. Coffee?” he said.205

“Sure,” I said. “Are you going to work?”206

“No. I’m staying with you.”207

“No, you’re going to work. So am I,” I said taking a drink of coffee.208

“Are you sure you should?”209

“Look Jason, I can’t sit around here forever. I need to occupy my mind.”210

“If you’re sure.”211

“I’m sure. Drop me at my house so I can get my truck,” I said. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”212

We stopped at my house and I got in my truck. I glanced at my house and shivered. I pulled out behind Jason and drove to the dry cleaners where I worked. I didn’t say much to anyone all morning. I had explained to my boss over the phone the day before what had happened. He told me to take all the time I needed. I figured I’d be better off working.213

I looked at the male customers closely, wondering if any one of them could be the guy. 214

I went through the next few days in a haze. I was supposed to go to a counselor. I kept putting it off. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want want to talk about it either.215

I decided to postpone the wedding. Jason told me to take all the time I needed, that he would be there when I was ready. I slowly withdrew from him and my friends. I quit calling them and didn’t take calls from them. I also quit taking classes at college. I felt like I couldn’t deal with that.216

I started working out three days a week and took a self-defense class. I didn’t go out after dark anymore. I had the locks changed four times and bars placed over the windows. I knew I was being paranoid but I didn’t want to take any chances. I was becoming bitter. When I closed my eyes that night would replay over and over. I kept seeing that dragon tattoo. The green eyes from that dragon haunted me.217

At work (when I did go) I stayed in the back doing the dry-cleaning instead working the counter in the front. I was afraid he might come in. I started wearing baggy clothes and kept my hair pulled back. I didn’t want to attract attention to myself.218

I felt like I was barely alive inside. Most days I felt empty then angry and sad. I wanted to move on, but I felt like I was trapped in that moment, defenseless at the hands of the rapist. It was the most sickening feeling I ever had and I just couldn’t shake it.219

A couple of months after the attack I started watching Law and Order: SVU. At first it was hard watching the show. It brought back that night vividly. But then something deep inside me told me that I needed help, that I could move past this. So I kept watching and I saw what happened to some of the victims, how they were paralyzed with fear. But others fought back. They took control of their lives and got justice for what happened to them. That’s when I decided I was going to take control back of my life. I wasn’t going to let this man continue to have power over me any longer.220

Thursday morning around nine thirty I called the rape counselor’s office and made an appointment for that afternoon. I also called my parents and then Jason. I felt a new sense of being, like things were going to be okay.221

The meeting with the counselor was difficult, but I made it through with a lot of crying and some yelling. I already felt a little better. Later that afternoon I met Jason at our favorite coffee shop. It was the first time I had been out for several weeks and also the first time I had seen Jason in weeks. We sat by the window, sipping coffee. He smiled at me warmly. I had missed his bright blue eyes and sweet smile. He had grown a goatee and cut his hair differently. I liked it.222

“How was your meeting?” he asked as he reached across the table for my hand.223

“It was rough,” I said. “But I do feel better. I should’ve done these months ago. I lost a lot of time because of fear. But now I’m not afraid. I’m sorry Jason.”224

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I’m glad to see you, Sara.I missed you so much,” Jason said. He kissed my hand lightly.225

“I missed you, too. Thank you for being so understanding.”226

“No problem, sweetheart.”227

“Well. We need to make plans,” I said smiling.228

“Plans?”229

“For our wedding,” I said as I finished my second coffee.230

“Are you sure?” he asked excitedly.231

“Yes. I don’t want to wait any longer.”232

“This is great,” Jason said smiling.233

We discussed the date, the guest list, the church and some other things. We left the coffee shop and went to his place. Jason cooked us dinner and we talked for a while. Around ten I told him I needed to get going.234

He walked me to my truck and opened the door.235

“I’ll drop by tomorrow, okay?” I said as I started the truck.236

“Okay. See ya then. I love you, Sara.”237

“I love you, too.” 238

As I drove home I felt like a weight had been lifted from me.239

The next day on my lunch break I stopped by Satin and Pearls wedding planners. I picked up some color and invitation samples that I wanted Jason to look at. Then I headed over to Lou’s Garage where Jason works. I parked in the front lot and walked through the main office waving at Lou. I went out to the shop and saw Jason working on a black BMW.240

“Hey J,”I said standing beside the car.241

He rose up from under the hood. “Hey babe. How are you?”242

“Good. I brought some samples I want you to look at later. I’ll put them in the truck.”243

“Truck’s out back,” Jason said.244

I walked through the shop and waved at the guys working there. I opened Jason’s truck door and put the samples on the seat. As I walked past a dark blue Toyota a necklace around the mirror caught my attention. It was a blue bead necklace with two pink beads in the middle. It looked like the one my mom had given me when I was a teenager. I had never taken it off. I flashed back to the night I was attacked. I saw the guy ripping it off my neck. I felt a knot forming in my stomach. I walked back inside and went over to Jason.245

“You okay? You look like you saw a ghost,” Jason said.246

“Whose blue truck is that outback?”247

“Tony’s. Why?” Jason said.248

“The necklace around the mirror looks like mine.”249

“What?”250

“Jason, just go look at it,” I said.251

“Okay.” We went out back and Jason opened the truck door. He grabbed the necklace and handed it to me.252

“Jason, that’s mine,” I said feeling lightheaded. “How did Tony get it?” Then an awful thought struck me. “Oh God, no,” I said out loud. “Jason, it was Tony.”253

“What?”254

“It was Tony. He was the one who raped me,” I said. I thought I was going to pass out.255

“Are you sure?”256

“It had to be him. How else would he have gotten my necklace?”257

“I’m going to find out right now what is going on,” Jason said, anger filling his voice.258

He stomped through the shop yelling for Tony. He came out of the parts room.259

“Hey man. What’s going on?” Tony said.260

“Where did you get this?” Jason asked shoving the necklace in his face.261

“Some chick gave it to me.”262

“You’re lying! “Jason yelled.263

“Man, I ‘m telling the truth,” Tony said.264

Jason grabbed Tony’s shirt.265

“Let go of me!” Tony yelled.266

“Sure,” Jason said as he let go of his shirt. Then he punched Tony in the face. Jason kept hitting him. “It was you, wasn’t it? You piece of trash! I’ll kill you!” Jason yelled as a couple of the guys pulled them apart.267

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re losing your mind, man.”268

As Tony turned to leave I saw a dragon tattoo on his left arm. It was red and black with green eyes.269

“Jason, it’s him! His tattoo, it’s a dragon. It’s him,” I screamed.270

Jason broke free from the guys and went after Tony. He tackled him to the floor and starting hitting him. Lou came running out of the office. “What in the world is going on?”271

“It’s Tony! He’s the one who raped me. Call the police,” I yelled. Lou ran to the office and called the police.272

The guys had pulled Jason and Tony apart again. They were still holding them when the police arrived. They cuffed Tony and Jason. I started explaining about the necklace and the tattoo and the rape.273

Before the police led Tony out, I looked at him. “Why? ”I asked.274

“I love you, Sara. I just wanted to be with you. You never knew I existed until that night,” he said. He had a wild look in his eyes.275

“You’re crazy,” I said watching the police lead him outside.276

The police let Jason go and he came over to me. He hugged me tightly. “It’s over now,” he said.277

“Yeah,” I said as I watched the police car drive away.278