The safest I'd ever been

I did go to the police.

Solicitor picked me up from work on Friday and he drove to the police station. He parked outside and asked me if I wanted to go in. I contemplated for half an hour before we went inside.

What should have been a chat about the incident turned into a gruelling interrogation. I filled out a statement form and answered more questions. I thought I'd just have to relay the incident but I was asked to recall whether he grabbed my left arm or my right arm first. I was asked what side of the car I was pushed against.

I felt like screaming. "I already told you this you stupid pikey bitch!"

Long hours later we got up to leave. The police officer shook our hands.

"We'll be in touch."

That's it? I don't know what I expected her to say but I thought she'd elaborate a little more.

As we drove home I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I did the right thing.

That night I couldn't sleep. I suddenly had an over whelming feeling of regret. I'd possibly ruined Bradley's life. I tossed and turned for hours unable to repress the dull pain in the pit of my stomach.

I was exhausted. It had been days since I had slept. Whenever I managed to nod off I had unbearable nightmares.

I padded to the bathroom in search of some sleeping pills. I was raiding the box of pills when I heard Solicitor. He stood in the doorway wiping the tiredness from his eyes. He slowly regarded the box and looked at me in question.

"Do we have any Nytol?"

He shook his head. He walked in and replaced the box.

"Get dressed. Put something warm on."

Ten minutes later we stepped out of the house into the cold night. Solicitor loaded the car with a thick blanket, extra coats and jumpers and two flasks of hot chocolate.

We drove for hours. He took the M4 out of London towards the west. Past Heathrow. Past Reading. Past Wokingham.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

We turned off at an exit past Swindon. The country lanes were dark and empty. There were no streetlights at all. Solicitor turned off down a dirt road barely wide enough to fit a car. There were thick bushes on either side scraping the windows as we drove through.

We suddenly stopped. Solicitor turned off the engine and the lights from the car.
"Close your eyes."

He helped me out of the car, holding me steady on the jagged road.

"Look up" He whispered.

I opened my eyes and gasped. The sky was filled with million and millions of stars. They were so bright they were like Christmas lights. I stood frozen in shock.

We sat on the blanket on the bonnet of the car smoking, drinking hot chocolate and whispering. It was as if we had discovered an amazing secret. As if we didn't want to ruin the silent beauty with any noise.

I fell asleep in the car on the way home.

I remember falling asleep in the car when I was a young child. I remember being carried into the house by my father. He used to hold me close and kiss my hair. My face buried in his neck. I trusted him completely during those moments. He kept me the safest I had ever been.

Solicitor carried me up the stairs when we got home. He laid me down on the bed and removed my clothes. He tucked me under the thick duvet and slid his warm body beside me. He wrapped me in his powerful arms. I felt his butterfly kisses on my neck before I fell into a blissful deep sleep.