“Knock knock, can I come in?” I ask as I walk into the physio room.
“Riley! How are you today? Ready for your first day of physio with me?” David asks enthusiastically as he comes and holds the door open for me.
“All ready,” I say, mimicking his enthusiasm.
“Good! Let’s get started then,” he says. “We will start off with a few stretches to loosen you up.”
I take a seat on the mat on the floor and start to stretch my arm and shoulders out, then I reach out and touch the tips of my toes on my good leg, just as I did every session with Susan.
“How long have you and Aden been seeing each other?” David inquires suddenly.
“Just under two years now,” I say smiling to myself. Wow, time has flown by. I’m not sure if it feels like it was just the other day that we met, or if it feels like we have been together forever.
“Good for you two,” David replies. “It must be hard for you to see him in the condition he is in right now,” he says sounding sympathetic.
“I hate seeing him like that yes, but I know it is not like it is going to hinder our relationship. We have gotten used to communicating now and I am confident in the doctors that are working with him. Aden is even looking much happier than when he first found out he couldn’t speak,” I say trying to sound positive.
“You know, if you ever need someone to talk to when Aden is not around, I am all ears,” David offers.
“Thanks,” I say blushing. I don’t know why I am blushing. Maybe it’s just thought of talking to him that makes me.
“I’m serious though. Sometimes someone close to a patient like Aden might bottle things up and not reveal some feelings to their partner or even close friends. That’s not good. I won’t judge you or be biased. I am here to listen and give advice if necessary,” David says as he stares directly into my eyes. Then he sits a little closer to me and his hand nearly brushes against mine.
My heart starts racing, but in a good way. It’s almost like I want him to reach out and hold my hand. Why am I feeling this way?
David stands up and goes over to the weights and picks up two 5lb. weights then hands them to me. “Let’s work on some upper body strength,” he says handing me a couple of the weights.
That was only day one of my exercises with David. The second day I couldn’t help but feel myself getting more comfortable with him. He would come from behind me and hold me by the waist as I did some exercises. I felt secure with his arms around me, something I haven’t felt with Aden in a while. Day three I started confessing things to him about the way I felt about Aden and how it can get a little difficult at times, especially now that I am back at home. He was so understanding. I feel that he truly gets me. The next few days, seeing David was the highlight of my day. Knowing that I would get to talk to him again and see him was my motivation to get up in the mornings I just wanted to lay there all day. Day 6 was when things got a little crazy.
“Awesome job today Riley,” David commends me. The way he says it with that accent is so charming.
“Thanks, but I have an awesome doctor that helps me be awesome,” I say smiling at him.
“I know that it’s our last day of physio together so I thought that maybe I could buy you an ice cream or something?” David asks.
“Ice cream sounds wonderful,” I reply. I deserve a break after all my hard work.
“There is an amazing little place that is about a 20 minute drive from here. If it’s not too far for you, I would love to take you. I promise you that they have the best ice cream in the world! You will not be disappointed,” David says like a giddy child.
“Enough sitting around then and let’s go!” I say. David takes me by the hand and helps me up.
“Sorry for having to drive you around in this old thing,” David says as he points to his car parked just outside the doors of his office.
“Are you kidding me? It’s a Porsche! How can you be sorry for taking me in this?” I remark.
“It’s last year’s model. My new one is still on its way here,” David says nonchalantly and smiles at me.
“Wow, I think this is the most expensive car I have ever driven in,” I say in awe.
“Get in and see how the inside feels,” David says opening the door for me to get in. “You know you could be driving in cars like this every day. You could have anything you want and live in luxury.” David pauses for a moment and looks straight into my eyes. “Be with me Riley. I can give you all this. I can give you ten times what Aden has to offer you.”
Before I could give him an answer, David leans in and starts kissing me. I try to pull away, but David won’t let me. Soon he is over on my side, on top of me. He presses a button on the side of the seat and starts lowering it back. I feel his hand starting to come up under my shirt. This is so wrong right now! I need this to stop.
“David I can’t,” I say. He ignores me and forces me down more. I try to scream but he just holds his hand over my mouth.
“It’s alright love,” David says calmly. “I thought this is what you wanted?”
“No it’s not! Get off of me!” I demand.
“It’s all fun. Aden doesn’t need to know,” David whispers into my ear and then presses his lips against mine.
I start kicking my good leg to try and push him off but he holds them down and holds the rest of me down with his body on top of mine. I feel completely helpless. Why had I even agreed to this? Aden was right, once again, I shouldn’t have trusted this guy. A tear rolls down my cheek.
“What the hell!” Sam yells as she bangs her fists against the windows of the car.
David, startled by this lets me go to look at who is outside. “Your friend?” he asks frustrated.
“Let her go you perv!” Sam demands.
“What are you going to do about it?” David asks with a sly smirk on his face. “The doors are locked. We are in here and you are out there.”
Sam turns around and starts walking away.
“That’s right, just keep walking,” David says. “Now where were we?” He looks back at me and starts to unzip the zipper of his pants.
I make a fist with my right hand and swing with all my might. I feel a crack as my hand makes contact with David’s face.
“You bitch!” David says, holding his nose as blood runs down his cheek.
I hear the sound of faint footsteps getting closer. “Close your eyes Riles!” Sam commands me. I see a rock about the size of a tennis ball in her hand. She holds it and swings her arm, hitting the window. I quickly close my eyes as glass shatters into the car.
“You girls are crazy! Do you know how much it will cost to replace that?” David says in frustration. “You bitches will pay for this!” David gets out of the car and faces Sam.
“Oh really?” Sam asks. “I think you are the one who will pay.” She holds out her phone showing him a video of what he had just tried to do.
I think I can feel the heat radiating off David from the anger and rage. David grabs me from the inside of the car and pulls me out. “Get out!” He tosses my crutches to me and runs to the driver side, gets in, and pulls away.
I wrap my arms around Sam with gratitude. “Sam, I cannot thank you enough! How did you even know I was out here?”
“I came to see if you wanted to hit the mall after your session today. I saw you and Dr. Perv going out to the car together so I followed to try and catch up with you. I was going to just leave, but I heard you scream, then I saw him start to go down on you,” Sam says.
“You are such a lifesaver Sam!” I say.
“This doctor is going down,” Sam says as she curls her fists into a ball. “Let’s go report this guy.”