I awoke to bright lights being shined in my eyes. I was lying on a bed in a white room and could hear the familiar husk of Alex’s voice. “She’s coming around, Officer Bower.”

“Al… ex?” I croaked. “Wh-what happened?”

I gazed up into concerned hazel eyes, and he smiled. “It’s okay. You’re safe. Can you tell me your name?”

“Yes… yes, of course, it’s… K-Kelly Darrow.”

“And can you remember anything of what happened to you?” He checked my pulse.

I closed my eyes and images of a wild-haired girl assaulted my frontal lobe. “Yes… Gina… Gina… erm… hit me.” I opened my eyes once again as they welled with tears.

“That’s right. But I want you to know that you are perfectly safe now. Gina has been taken away from here. She can’t hurt you again.” His large hand stroked my head, but I winced as its soreness became evident.

Being assaulted at work was something that had been highlighted in university as a possibility, and we were coached in how to avoid situations where it could happen and how to deal with such incidents should they arise. But despite my preparedness, I never imagined I would be a victim. No amount of classroom training could have readied me for the intense and heartbreaking emotional scarring I would experience following the attack I had suffered. It shook me to the core and made me question everything I had worked for. The fact that I had been attacked by a woman somehow made it worse. Gina apparently had been dragged off me, kicking and screaming accusations that I was trying to kill her. She was sedated and removed from my office and subsequently taken to a more secure unit. The whole situation was horrific and terrifying and I was quickly ushered off on compassionate leave.

Taking time out from work was wasn’t something I ever did lightly, but going up to the Isle of Skye with Esme had definitely been the medicine I needed. The little cottage she had booked was just over the Skye Bridge at Kyleakin and it overlooked Loch Alsh. It was a small but very sweet little house, painted white and hunkered low against the elements.

The two bedrooms had been squeezed into the eaves and afforded occupants a magnificent view of the imposing bridge and the boats sailing by on the calm waters beneath.

Esme had packed plenty of DVD movies—mainly comedies—to keep us occupied, but there were board games in the cupboard by the fireplace too. The weather was bright but cold and I had made sure to pack plenty of sweaters, scarves, and hats.

My fractured left hand was encased in plaster, and the itching skin there was driving me mad; but my face and head were healing nicely, and I was thankful that I hadn’t needed stitches. The glue had matted my hair, however, and I was self-conscious about it. Hence the assortment of hats.

We sat eating breakfast at the kitchen table one morning when Esme announced the plans for the day. “We’re going to see the Old Man of Storr today. There’s a cute little café on the way, so we’re sorted for cake and coffee later. It’s in a centre for the elderly that I discovered when I was researching the area. The cafe is actually run by the lovely old dears too. And… well… They’ve… they’ve got a vacancy actually.”

I scrunched my brow. “Are you thinking of a career change? This is news. Although I can’t imagine you with a blue rinse serving cake. Although the old guys would probably love you. You’d have to watch yourself there.” I giggled at the thought.

She chewed her lip and knotted her fingers. “I was actually thinking of you, honey. The vacancy is for a clinical psychologist.”

Confusion washed over me. “Me? But… I have a job.”

“I know. But after what happened, I thought maybe a change of scenery and a fresh start might do you good. You know, working with people who are less likely to attack you with a blunt instrument.”

The thought that I was in the wrong job had crossed my mind on more than one occasion since I had met Cain—and especially since the assault. “What’s the job?”

“It’s a counselling role. Working with people at the centre who are adjusting to life in residential care. They do some amazing work, Kel. I think you should check out the job description. They’re… Look, this is going to sound terrible, but I sent your CV in and they want to meet with you.”

My eyes widened and I gulped. “I can’t go to an interview looking like this.” I gestured to my bruised and swollen face. Although it wasn’t as bad as it had been, it still made me look like the worst possible candidate for a job with oldies.

“They know about the assault. Alex has spoken to them.”

I gasped and stood

She held up her hands and stuttered, “L-look, I know this seems very underhanded of us, but… we were just looking out for you.”

“Since when have you and Alex been in cahoots?” My voice squeaked. My shock very much evident.

“Since…” She covered her face briefly and peeped out through her fingers. “Oh, God, don’t hate me, Kel. He’s been taking me out for a few weeks. We met when you were in hospital after the assault, and we just… hit it off.” She shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I really like him. I know there’s an age gap, but…” She ended her half-finished sentence with a simultaneous shrug and cringe.

Panic rushed through my veins at the thought of my past misdemeanours with Cain being discussed over dinner. I opened and closed my mouth like a goldfish out of its bowl.

As if she were reading my mind, she stood and came around the table to me. “Under no circumstances would I ever tell him anything about you and Cain, so you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Okay?”

My heart was racing and I suddenly felt lightheaded. “But what if it slips out? By accident?” Or because Alex has a talent for reading between the lines.

She placed her hands firmly on my shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. Just go for the interview and see about that fresh start, okay?”

I met with Christian Sampson later that day. He was great. The role with the elderly people sounded like a breath of fresh air and very positive. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was excited. This was something I could maybe get my teeth into. I left the meeting with a smile on my face under the advisement that I would receive a call at the end of the week.

That same evening, Esme had booked us a table at the restaurant a couple of hundred metres away, and we sat munching on steak and chips. My appetite was back with a vengeance.

“So what was he like? Looks-wise I mean.” The twinkle in Esme’s eyes told me she was in matchmaking mode.

“Whoa… don’t even go there. Even if I do get the job, there is no way on this earth I’ll be mixing business with pleasure ever again. No thank you.”

Esme laughed. “Okay, okay. Message received loud and clear.”

“The only thing is… Cain won’t know where I am.”

She sighed and reached across the table. “I know. But… in all honesty, maybe that’s a good thing. You won’t be wondering if he’s going to turn up one day. You can really move on.”

She was right. He hadn’t tried to contact me in all this time, and he wasn’t going to. I needed to let it go. This fresh start would have to be a new beginning in every sense of the phrase.