I Was Looking For You...

"We're going to be late again. Hurry up," Terry said.

In Keisha's eyes, he was always rushing her, always so impatient. Over the years she's been with him, she constantly gave him the benefit of the doubt. Was it because he covered her financially? Was it because he took care of her by buying her that diamond necklace after he apologized for his demeaning outbursts? She didn't know for sure; the only thing she knew was that when they returned from this trip, she had to tell him that enough was enough.

They made their way to the drive sharing service car as the pitter patter of the rain pounded down hard against the one umbrella they shared.

"You forgot your suitcase," Terry said and rolled it up to her leg. He tapped the driver's side window and told the driver to open the trunk.

To Keisha's surprise, Terry closed the umbrella, went into the backseat and buckled up, leaving the rain to pour down her newly braided hair onto her clothes. "You're not going to help me?"

Terry opened the door just enough for her to hear him. "I told you to be on time."

The driver noticed her struggling and asked if he could help. She shook her head no.

"How much more of this can I take?" Without saying anything, she packed her suitcase in the trunk next to Terry's, got in the car and they were on their way to the airport.

You'd think the beautiful palm trees would have made it better. You would assume that the Pacific Ocean breeze gently brushing against her skin would have given Keisha peace and that the new environment would have taken her thoughts away from her problems.

The sad truth was that she knew what was coming. She knew the conversation was brewing and no matter how many times he apologized for his behavior, she couldn't take it anymore.

Terry opened the door to their hotel room and Keisha walked inside. It had a stunning view of the water and mountains in the distance. They were on the 19th floor.

She stepped out onto the balcony. She watched the cars below; the mixture of car horns, the seagulls squawking in flight, and water crashing onto the shore were buzzing in her ears. "It would feel good to meet the ground from here. I bet Terry wouldn't even notice."

When she walked back into the room, Terry was in the bathroom and the door was closed. He was speaking very low to someone, but by the pitch coming through the other end, she could tell it was another female. "He's doing it again...he promised he wouldn't."

She didn't wait for him. She didn't ask questions. She simply grabbed her purse and very quietly closed the door behind her as she took the elevator down to the lobby.

The music was louder than she wanted to hear at that moment. She sat on the edge of a palm tree as there was a reggae concert going on just outside of the resort. She missed those days that she could just listen to music, be free, and be happy. It's been so long since she was genuinely happy.

Her tears rushed so intensely she was losing her breath and hyperventilating. "How could he do this to me? I keep giving him chances. I keep forgiving him. He treats me like crap, but there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. I just want him to choose me. I just want him to love me."

"Are you alright?"

Keisha glanced up, still trying to breathe normally. The first thing she saw was the tissue in his hand. She followed his hand up to his face. Even through her despair she noticed how handsome he was and she saw the clear look of concern in his eyes. She couldn't fully see him as the sun shining behind him made him into a silhouette. It wasn't until he sat next to her and placed both of his hand over hers that she saw him clearer: he had sandy brown hair, dark brown eyes and a smooth-shaven face. Still, she couldn't speak.

"Breathe," the handsome stranger said gently, "take a deep breath with me. Ready?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

Together they inhaled deeply then let it out, repeating the deep breathing three more times. She kept her eyes closed the whole time.

To her relief, she felt calmer, and the tears stopped flowing by the end of their last exhale together.

"How do you feel?"

"I...thank you," she managed to reply.

"My pleasure. You scared me for a moment there," he said. He smiled and looked at her with compassion in his eyes. "I'm a therapist. I really don't like seeing people in distress. Anytime and anywhere, I can help, I do. I'm Michael. What's your name?"

"Keisha. I need help so badly, but I'm scared too, especially since Terry..."

She paused. She didn't mean to bring him up. In all honesty, this stranger, Michael, comforted her in a way Terry never did. Terry blamed her emotional responses on her period coming or that she was overacting. He was never man enough to face the true fact of the matter: he was the cause of her pain.

As if reading her mind, Michael said, "Is Terry the reason you're here right now?"

She nodded.

"I was raised on this island. I see people visit here all the time with significant others, having weddings and honeymoons. It's paradise. I don't know who this Terry is or what he did to you, but I don't see a reason for you to be crying in such a beautiful place. You should be enjoying it for the beauty it is and all the beauty you hold. You deserve that, Keisha."

She locked eyes with him and grinned. It was a long time since she was complimented. The closest to a compliment she received from Terry was that her losing a few pounds would show her shape better in her dresses she wore. She didn't know why but, in that moment, the thought came to her: I was looking for you..." It was like her soul was being seen for the first time since, ever.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Keisha and Michael looked up at the same time and saw Terry walking quickly in their direction. She was afraid to answer him, so she darted her eyes to the floor.

"Get up!" He grabbed her by the arm and forced her to her feet. His nails gripped her arm so tightly, her arm began to bleed. "You had me looking all over this island for you like a fool!"

"Let her go," Michael said. He stood close to Terry looking directly at him.

Terry looked at Michael then back to Keisha. "Oh, so, you're cheating on me now? We came not one hour ago, and you're already up to this."

"Terry, you're hurting me," she said quietly. In her heart, she knew that meant in more ways than one. She didn't even realize he heard her.

"I ain't hurt you, yet."

"I said get off her," Michael said. He shoved Terry so hard, he released his grip on her arm.

A bit of a distance away, two officers were watching it all. They walked up to them.

"Is everything alright here?" the first officer asked.

Michael stood in front of Keisha as a shield of protection between her and Terry.

Keisha wanted to remain silent. She was scared not to, but something inside of her whispered, "Speak up."

With the little ounce of bravery she had left, she said, "He hurt me."

The officers saw the bleeding nail marks on her arm. Then she rolled down the diamond necklace and revealed the choking scars. She rolled up her sleeves and revealed the bruises.

"That wasn't the first time," she mustered the courage to say.

Before Terry could lie about it or get away. The two male officers grabbed him and put handcuffs on him. Terry cursed at her, yelled about her apparent infidelity and how she wasn't ever going to get anything better as they took him away.

Michael turned to Keisha and asked, "Do you need me to stay with you for a while?"

Without a single word, pushing pass the awkward thought that he would think it strange, she wrapped her arms around him and wept.

Michael let her cry. He didn't speak until she was ready too. She knew in that moment that it was true, the thought that crossed her mind: "I was looking for you..."

She was looking for comfort. She was looking for companionship. She was looking to be treated like a human being and not constantly put down, not constantly judged.

Years later, Keisha and Michael shared many memories together, but nothing as important as this one: when she needed to be seen the most, he was exactly what she was looking for.

Message From The Author:

May this story remind us all that we're worthy of being treated with the love we deserve.