Anna stretched and then winced. The wounds on her wrists and ankles were still raw, even after four weeks, and it hurt when she strained the skin. As the morning sun poured through the cracks of the blinds, she squeezed her eyes shut and rolled to her side. She opened them and an air of sadness fell over her.
Anna felt that way every morning when she saw Ben’s side of the bed empty. She knew it would be something she had to get used to, but right now, she didn’t want to.
Dragging herself from bed, Anna stumbled to the bathroom. The woman looking back at her in the mirror was almost unrecognizable. The bruising was almost gone, but the puffiness remained around her eyes since she woke up crying in the middle of the night, courtesy of her recurring nightmares. Her nose would be forever crooked thanks to Cara’s lover. Gabe had slammed his fist into her nose so hard that it broke instantly.
Sighing, Anna turned the faucet on and began splashing the cool water onto her heated skin, then pulled a nearby towel off the hook and lightly dried her face. She made her way down to the kitchen and found Karlie sitting at the table.
“You look terrible,” she expressed, pushing a cup of coffee towards her.
Anna laughed. “I can always count on you to honest about my appearance.”
“What are best friends for?” she asked, smiling. “Another nightmare?”
Anna nodded and glanced at the newspaper that lay on the table. Ben’s picture was plastered across the front of it.
“Are you ever going to throw that away?”
Anna shook her head. The article spoke of the fateful day when Cara and Ethan lost their minds and decided to become murderers and Ben’s involvement in it all.
“Want some breakfast?” Karlie asked, changing the subject.
Her stomach growled loudly. “I was about to say no, but my stomach has other ideas.”
They giggled. “How are you feeling today?”
Anna’s gaze followed Karlie as she walked to the stove and turned it on. “I’m good. I think it’s time to get out of the house. I’ve been cooped up in here for too long.”
Karlie dropped the spatula. “Really? We can really leave the house?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Anna ran her hand gently down her cheek. “The bruising is light enough that people won’t stare.”
Karlie rolled her eyes. “Bruising or not, you’re still beautiful. It was silly of you to isolate yourself because of it.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Thanks, mom.”
Karlie laughed again and bent to pick the spatula up. She pulled a pan from the cabinet and placed it on the stove. She turned it on before walking to the fridge to pull out eggs and cheese.
“Scrambled?” she asked.
Anna nodded again. Karlie had taken her role as the best friend to a whole new level since she came home from the hospital. She had cooked, done the laundry and everything else Joyce couldn’t do.
A loud banging sound came from the hallway along with and a string of curses. Anna smiled. “Here comes grumpy pants.”
“If I remember correctly, you are both grumpy pants,” Karlie retorted.
“Babe?” Anna called out. “You good?”
Ben appeared in the doorway looking very disgruntled. “I am over these damn crutches.”
The day Ben was shot was the day Anna thought she had lost the love of her life. What appeared to be a bullet to the chest turned out to be a bullet to the shoulder, very close to his chest. Between the knife wounds to his thigh and the bullet hole, Ben had lost a lot of blood and blacked out.
Doctors were able to patch him up nicely, but it would take a lot of time for his leg to heal. When Ethan stabbed Ben and twisted the blade, he caused extensive damage to the muscle. The injury would take time to heal and many sessions of physical therapy.
It’s an injury that ended Ben’s baseball career. One he claims he was ready to retire from.
His physical therapist dragged him from bed every morning at six o’clock, and he spent hours trying to re-strengthen his leg. He groaned as he rubbed the fresh scar on his thigh.
“How was it today?” Anna asked sincerely. She felt terrible because her nightmares kept him up some nights.
“Brutal. He tried to push me to a new level. I failed miserably.”
Anna scooted closer to Ben and laid her head on his shoulder. “It’ll get better with time.”
He wrapped his arm around her. “I know it will. I’m impatient.”
She let out a loud laugh. “Ain’t that the truth?”
He pushed her playfully.
“You talk to Tom today?”
Ben shook his head. “It’s still early. I’m sure he’ll call later.”
Tom died that day, but the paramedic was able to revive him. The bullet wound he endured went through his lung and he almost bled out. Anna thanked her lucky stars every single day that someone was watching over them.
Life, however, was not in Ethan and Cara’s favor. The single bullet each of them received not only immobilized them, it killed them.
“Anna said that she’s ready to leave the house today,” Karlie mentioned when she set a plate of eggs smothered in cheese in front of Anna.
“Is that right?” Ben looked down at her.
“Why is this such a surprise?”
“Because you have been sulking around this house for weeks now.” Karlie tied her robe shut. “I’m off to shower. Think of what you want to do today.” She waved and disappeared from the kitchen.
“You good?” Ben searched her face.
“I’m good.”
“You sure? You had another nightmare last night.” He ran his finger down her cheek and across her chin.
“I’m sure. Maybe being cooped up in the house is preventing me from getting over that day. I need a change of scenery.”
“You know, Anna, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” He suddenly paled.
“Ben, are you okay? What’s happening?” Anna attempted to pull his shorts up to examine his wound but he swatted her hand away.
“I’m fine.” He stood and slowly knelt down to one knee. She knew he had to be in immense pain from the strained look on his face.
“Anna, love of mine.”
She smiled. “You know you’ll regret straining that muscle.”
“It’ll be worth it in the end.” He placed his hand in his pocket and retrieved a small red box.
Anna’s eyed widened. “Ben?”
“I know this may seem sudden, considering what we’ve been through and the fact that we’ve only known each other a few months.” He opened the box to reveal a perfect princess cut diamond in a white gold setting. The center stone was surrounded by smaller diamonds, and the band contained even more diamonds. It was beautiful and breathtaking.
“But I can’t imagine living the rest of this crazy life with anyone else but you.” He pulled the ring from the box and held it up. “Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in Anna’s eyes and she began nodding her head. “Have you lost your mind?”
Ben slid the ring on her finger and it fit perfectly. “My mind is exactly where it needs to be. So, will you?”
“Yes. Yes, yes, yes!” Anna threw her arms around Ben’s neck and placed kisses all over his face. “Yes, Ben. I will marry you.”
She helped him to his feet and they began kissing each other passionately. Anna couldn’t believe that she was engaged to be married.
“Shall we celebrate this evening?”
Anna nodded. “I can’t wait.” Just like she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with this amazing man. She watched him pick up his crutches and make his way out of the kitchen. When he reached the hall, he stopped and looked back at her. He smiled that half smile she loved so much and blew her a kiss. Her heart instantly melted.
Life would get better, she knew that, and knowing that she would be able to do it with Ben Whitley had become her dream come true.
The End