Page 70 of Zimyra

I cover my face with my hands and scream to myself. So much for pretending nothing happened between us. Myplanfailed before I had a chance to implement it.

I was so shook, I needed some alone time, so I didn’t even go to lunch with Capri today. I told her something had come up and it had – something like me trying to figure this mess out. I drive to the park but sit in the car, touching the red areas on my neck, courtesy of Axel. I don’t know what has gotten into me lately. This is not like me to fall into the arms of a player and play his games of seduction. I’m so out of my mind right now, I don’t know what to think. Does his mouth possess that much power?

When I get back to work, I resume my day, filling all my available time with any and everything work-related. The more I keep my mind occupied, the more I can avoid him. That’s why when I get a visitor at three o’clock looking to tour a unit, I’m elated. This will take at least thirty minutes and will make the workday breeze on by.

I place his license in the drawer and lock it. He tells me his girlfriend was supposed to meet him here, but she’s running late, and he doesn’t have time to wait for her.

Girlfriend…

The man looks like he’s in his late fifties with a gray beard and all, talking about a girlfriend. Men these days…

We walk to the model unit. I show him the kitchen, the washer and dryer. We step down the hallway. He views the bathroom. Coming out of there, I show him the first bedroom, then we walk to the master. He looks into the closet, walks into the bathroom, and comments about the double vanities. He tells me how much his girl would love that added touch.

Overall, he says he likes the place. I allow him to pass ahead of me when we head back down the hallway, instructing him that we’ll go back to the leasing office where I’ll give him an application. In a split second, he turns, grabs me by the throat, and shoves me up against the wall. I’m caught off guard. The shock of it all, of being physically attacked, hits different when it actually happens.

I can’t believe this is happening to me.

After the initial shock fades, I try to scream, but his hands are gripping my neck. Then he punches me in the face so hard, I fall to the floor. I use the opportunity to kick him in the crotch. He falls backward, wailing in pain, calling me out my name. I scream for help while positioning the mace on my keychain to be ready in the event that he gets up. He’s lying in the hallway. If I try to get past him, he could grab me. Unfortunately, that’s the only way out.

“Help!” I scream again. With shaky, unstable hands, I manage to whip out my phone and dial 911 when I see him getting up. I tell the operator the address, the building and apartment number. Leaving the line open, I drop the phone on the floor and prepare to fight. I’m not about to be anyone’s victim.

Before I can register my next move, Axel comes around the corner and wrestles the man to the ground. And then he punches the guy, over and over and over again.

Wham!

Wham!

Wham!

Wham!

He pounds his face so hard, I can hear the sound of his fist striking the man’s face. Then I see blood. Out of pure rage, I’m sure Axel done broke the man’s nose. The dude’s body goes limp. Axel is still going at it.

Wham!

Wham!

“Axel!” I yell when I see he’s not letting up. “Axel, stop! I called 911.”

He hits him again.

Wham!

“Axel!”

He has officially blanked, and I’m not sure if I can stop him. I see the rage in his face, in his eyes, in the muscles bulging from beneath his skin. If I don’t stop him, this man is as good as dead. He probably deserves it, but I can’t have Axel catching a murder charge because of me.

“Axel, stop! The police are on the way,” I say. “I hear the sirens.”

He finally lets up on the man and turns his attention to me.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his chest heaving in and out with force. He attempts to touch my face until he realizes how bloody his right hand is. He uses the left instead.

I wince. It’s tender to the touch.

“Zimyra, talk to me. Are you okay?”

“Yes. He…um…he punched me right here,” I say, touching my right cheek to show him the exact spot, but I’m sure there’s a bruise so he already knows. My light complexion can’t hide a thing.

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