“And what do you have to say for yourself, Piper?” Jacob asked me after his speech ended. His face was red with embarrassment, and all of the people in the community were outraged.

What was I supposed to say or do? This was one of the first times in my life I stood up for myself. At that moment, I was so proud of myself, but now that I was standing in front of the crowd without Cole by my side, I felt all of the guilt in the world.

The emotions hit me straight in the solar plexus. Barely able to breathe, let alone say a word, I closed my eyes and tried to block them out. “We are talking to you,” Jacob said.

“I was defending him,” I said. “The speech was about him. It’s not fair to ambush someone with insults, especially on Cole’s father’s funeral. If you want to spread your philosophy, creating more enemies isn’t the way to go about it.”

Jacob didn’t know what to say, so he grabbed my arm and heaved me toward the door. I screamed, but no one came to my aid. The funeral had been ruined. Of course, it was my entire fault.

We drove home in silence, but I was scared for my life. What he did to me the other day would stay in my mind forever, but I also knew he was capable of much more. “We’re home,” Jacob said. “Come on. I’m not dragging you out of this car.”

I opened the door and timidly walked behind my boyfriend. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, loudly dropping the keys against the hardwood floor. “Where is he?” he asked, glancing at the shoe rack near the front door. The boots he usually wore were nowhere to be found.

“I don’t know, Jacob,” I said. “I don’t track his every move. Find him yourself.”

The number of times I talked back to Jacob today was astronomical. I couldn’t hold my anger back any longer. Once the gates were open, all of my grievances were laid flat on the table.

“Cole!” Jacob screamed wildly, thrashing his coat against the hook. “Come upstairs!”

The back door slid open. Cole walked in, arms bulging against his undershirt. Whatever was going to happen wasn’t going to be good. I let myself fall into the corner of the house, sliding down to the floor. I watched as Jacob walked up to Cole, punching him directly in the jaw.

“Jacob!” I screamed, tears already welling in my eyes. “Get off him!”

Jacob didn’t bat an eye. As Cole fell to the floor in a daze, Jacob pinned him with his legs. He threw one punch after another until Cole was lying, bloody and bruised. Then, Cole smiled.

Jacob stood up, exhausted. He spat down on Cole’s face. I knew that Cole could have fought him if he wanted to, but that was never Cole’s style. And Jacob’s quick rise to aggression didn’t look good on his part.

Still, once the drama was over, I knew everything would change forever. “Please. Jacob,” I cried. My chest caved in with anxiety. “I can’t—”

I’m not sure what happened after that. I fell limp against the floor. A throbbing pain flashed through my arm, and my chest felt like someone was pressing their weight against it.

“Piper!” Cole screamed and jumped to his feet. Jacob stood standing, unable to react. He was a coward, after all.

Cole turned to Jacob and yelled, “Don’t just stand there! Do something!”

Even still, Jacob did nothing. He stuttered an intelligible phrase, but he offered no solutions. Cole ran downstairs, grabbed a phone, and called the ambulance. “We need someone here right away. I think my love is having a heart attack,” he said.

The pain was worse than throbbing. It was debilitating. Cole ran to my aid, holding my hand. “It’s going to be alright,” he said. “We’re going to get through this. Together.”

He looked back at Jacob with extreme malice. “You’re pathetic,” Cole said. “It’s no wonder why you stay in this town. You wouldn’t make it in a real city.”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Jacob whispered, lowering his head. He walked into the kitchen, pulled out a cigarette, and sat down.

* * *

“It was a minor episode, but we want to keep you in here for observation,” the doctor said. “We still need to run some tests, and you need your rest.”

“But he’s going to be okay?” Cole asked.

“I don’t like to give any guarantees, but it’s looking like he’ll be able to go home tomorrow,” the doctor said.

“Home?” Cole asked. “No. He can’t go home. No way.”

Jacob was silent, but he finally felt able to speak up again. “He’s coming home whether you like it or not,” he said.

“You abusive fuck,” Cole whispered under his breath.

“Abusive? I don’t know where you get your facts,” Jacob said. “But no abuse has been issued.”

The doctor’s eyes creased, and he raised a single brow. “Excuse me, but I need a second with my patient,” he said.

Jacob stood his ground. “We’ll go home today if you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting,” Jacob said.

“He is suggesting that,” Cole said. “And he’s correct to do his job.”

Jacob pointed his finger at Cole’s face. “This man here has come into our community, threatened my boyfriend and me, and disrespected our rules!” Jacob screamed.

The doctor was finished with hearing us both argue. “Both of you! Get out of this room! My patient could have died earlier,” he said.

Cole walked out first. Jacob followed. I had no idea what would ensue in the hallway.

The doctor turned to me and sighed. “Community?” he asked. “What was your boyfriend talking about?”

“It’s nothing,” I said. Nothing I could say would help my cause. Everyone in the neighborhood would gather as witnesses to make sure Jacob looked as innocent as could be.

“I’m here to listen. By law, nothing that you say can ever leave this room. That means that this is a safe space,” the doctor said.

“He treats me with respect. It’s complicated, but I am okay. I promise. I just need some rest,” I said.

It was all I could do. I knew that people on the outside might think I was weak or pathetic. But those same people could never understand what it was like to be put in a situation like this.

Even if I admitted what he did to me, he wouldn’t face jail time. He would pay a simple fine, or maybe he would spend a night in a local jail cell. Then, he’d be free to do as he pleased. And I’d be forced to be there waiting for him at home, floors cleaned.

“Okay,” the doctor said. “I’ll leave you be. But if anything comes to mind, you can let me know. We’re here for you if you need it.”

“Thank you,” I said, honestly.

As the doctor walked out of the room, Jacob and Cole walked in after. “I’m so glad you’re alive,” Jacob said. “Thank heavens.”

Sure. Thank the heavens.