(A short story)
She slapped a deck of cards on the table, pulled a chair out, and plopped down with a dramatic sigh.
“So, who’s in for Texas Hold’em? I’ll deal.”
The guys laughed and slapped her on the back, and David winced. Every Time someone touched her like that, with a good natured shove or a punch in the arm, he wanted to sock them. It didn’t matter that he knew she could take care of herself now. He’d seen what she did to the bartender when he got too handsy. But every time he saw her he still saw the broken girl who had stayed up late texting him, pouring out her heart in long paragraphs and then deleting them a minute later when she second guessed herself. He still saw the girl that laughed to cover up the tears hiding just behind her eyes. He still saw the girl that prayed with him at night. He still saw Seriah, and it didn’t matter that she had changed her name.
He knew the real her.
The game went late into the night. David sat in the faded green rocker, his six foot eight inches barely fitting its small frame. He could have moved, there were empty spots on the sofa. But he wanted to be able to see her, and this was the best spot. She had ignored him so far, or pretended to anyway. But he saw her occasional nervous glance in his direction. He saw the way she’d bite the corner of her thumb and then laugh too loudly at another crude joke made. He saw how hard she was trying to keep those walls up.
“Hey now!” A tall biker with a goatee and a charming smile tugged playfully at the hem of her shirt, “I don’t think you’re playing fair Angel, you owe me”.
Seriah laughed, but David heard the force behind it.
“Aw yeah, and what do I owe you?” She batted her eyelashes playfully and David felt the heat rush to his face. His hands clenched on the arms of the chair, and he locked his jaw, forcing himself to stay seated.
The biker tugged at a loose strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail and licked his teeth, “Why don’t we go upstairs and discuss that?”
David swallowed hard and prayed that she wouldn’t say yes, that he wouldn’t watch her throw herself away right in front of him. He wouldn’t let her if she did. He wouldn’t be able to control himself.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t ya?” Seriah laughed again, and leaned over the table to grab a stack of cards on the other side. The biker eyed her, then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap, placing a hard kiss on the corner of her mouth.
David stood up quickly, ready to punch the guy, but Seriah had already shoved her way out of his arms.
“Don’t do that again,” she said in a low and dangerous voice.
The biker smirked, and the boys around the table laughed.
“Or what Angel? Do I offend you?”
He stood up and starting walking towards her, causing Seriah to back up.
“Come on Jed, let’s just finish the game”.
He shook his head, “Aww, Angel, I like this much better.”
Suddenly he whipped his arm out and hooked it around her waist, pulling her roughly against him.
David moved before he even realized what he was doing. He’d never fought someone before, but he knew a few punches his dad had taught him. It didn’t matter he stood zero chance against the muscular biker, he just knew he was going to destroy him.
“Hey!” David shouted, and the biker spun his head around just in time for David to knock him in the jaw with his fist.
The biker released his hold on Seriah and David didn’t wait. He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.
“W- David! What are you doing?!” Seriah scrambled after him, her wrist locked in his fingers as he half dragged her towards the door, the Biker cursing behind him.
He could hear the biker gaining on him, pushing aside chairs in the way, and Seriah was moving too slow. So David scooped her up in his arms and made a run for the back door, knocking aside the bartender and ignoring Seriah’s demands to put her down.
Finally they made it out the back door and into the alley, and David sprinted down it, until he had cut across the street and found the safety of a secluded spot behind an old tire shop.
“Put me down!” Seriah screeched, and slowly David set her down, panting heavily from his run. She pushed against his chest and away from him, her eyes snapping twin fires.
“What was that?” She demanded angrily.
David stood staring at her for a moment, still panting. He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.
“That was us running from an angry biker,” he said softly, “In case you hadn’t noticed.”
She clenched her jaw, “I didn’t ask for your help.”
David ran a hand through his hair, mussing the curls on his head, and sighed, “You didn’t have to Seriah, I couldn’t help myself.”
“It’s Angel” she hissed, “And I don’t need your protection. I’m fine on my own.”
He opened his mouth to reply but she cut him off with an angry jerk of her hand towards the bar.
“You know, you have a lot of nerve. You show up at that bar and watch me, for over a week now. You don’t drink. You just sit there. What on earth is going on David?”
He stared into her eyes, praying for the right words. What could he say? This was his moment. Why couldn’t he think of anything that could help heal her heart?
“I never stopped loving you,” he said finally, because it was all he could think of.
She stared at him for a moment, and then she let out an exasperated breath, “Oh my Gosh. You gotta be kidding me.”
She shook her head, “I’m done with this conversation” then she spun on her heels. He caught her hand and she froze.
“What happened to you Seriah?” he asked in a soft voice, “Look at you, trying so hard, acting so tough. Where’s the girl I know?”
Seriah ripped herself from his grasp, “The girl you knew is dead David! She’s gone, and she’s never coming back. There’s nothing left for you.”
David shook his head and took a step towards her.
“She’s not dead, because I can see her.”
He took another step towards her and she took a half step back.
“I see her everytime you laugh and she’s begging you to let her free, to remember what real joy feels like.”
He took another step towards her, and she took two steps back, eyeing him wearily.
“I see her everytime you down your alcohol, and she’s begging you not to shut her away.”
Tears brimmed in Seriah’s eyes and she shook her head frantically, “David–” she said in a pleading voice, her eyes begging him to stop.
He swallowed, fighting his own tears, and took yet another step towards her until she was backed up against the concrete wall, and he was only three feet away.
“I see her now,” he whispered, “Terrified of the truth. Terrified of opening up. Terrified of being hurt.”
She choked back her tears and continued to shake her head.
David moved closer. He stood only a foot away and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek, caressing the tears from her skin.
“Seriah,” he said softly, like her name was an endearment, “I’m so sorry. I should have let you fall in love with Yahweh before me. I didn’t know how to show you him the way I knew him. You were so broken. I just wanted to love you. But I’m here now, I’m here to tell you he’s still waiting for Seriah. He remembers the girl who spent so many nights crying alone. And he can love you in ways I never can.”
She stared up at him, silent tears coursing down her cheeks, and then slowly she let a broken sob escape her lips. Her body shook and she sagged against him, her forehead leaned against his shoulder.
And he held her. They weren’t ready for a relationship again, at least not yet. She needed time to heal and time to find the truth. But he would be there for her during the process. And yes, he would love her. And one day, when she was ready, she would be able to love him too.