I looked away in shameful disgust.
“I don't want to talk about that.” I said feeling the emotion building up.
“What you mean is your past!” He said as he threw the folder back down on the desk making the contents spill out, scattering my life on pages across the polished wood. I kept swallowing, as I could taste the acid that my stomach produced. The anger started to replace my shame. What right did he have to do this to me?
“My past is none of your business! How dare you judge me! So you think because you found out my real name that this proves something...You don't know anything!” I shouted feeling my lungs needing more air as my hands shook.
“Don't be foolish Catherine, I'm not judging you, damn it! I'm trying to protect you, if you would let me.” He said trying to calm me down but it was too late for reason, we were well past that now.
“Protect me, from what?”
“From that!” He shouted pointing to the file spread out like a collage of my life.
“Well thanks, but I don't need your help. I coped on my own last time and I can do it again!” I said, but he looked down at my arms and came back with the ultimate hurt.
“Is that what you call coping?”
I looked down at my arms that were covered with numerous layers as I still had my jacket and zipped hooded sweater on. I was so angry I could feel the tears developing and I wanted to scream out at him but instead I calmed my breathing and said in a controlled way,
“You think you know everything just because you have read some stupid file filled with evidence pictures and test results but you don't know anything about how I coped. You just take one look at me and you come up with the same conclusion as everybody else does! After all, it was you that said presumption is the mother from which all mistakes are born!” By the end of this little speech I couldn't stop the beads of water that escaped my eyes.
“Then tell me.” He said, his voice filled with compassion at seeing me cry.
“What?” I said nearly sobbing.
“Well you say I don't understand, you say that I don't know the whole story and this is true, I don't.” He flipped open the file and continued “I have read this file over and over and there is not one statement from you, so why don't you tell me what happened.”
“NO!” Was all I said, but he walked closer to me stopping only a foot away. He tilted his head to see my face but I kept my head down.
“All I want to do is go...I need to get out of here.” I said without meeting his eyes, as I could feel them burning into mine.
“Ok... well we will strike a deal, if you tell me what really happened then I will let you leave.” He said and my heart rate shot up a couple of notches.
“You wouldn't.” I was keeping on my guard.
“I give you my word that if by the time you have finished and you still want to leave then I will allow it but....”
“But what?”
“I have to be satisfied that it is the truth.” He said placing his hand under my chin and then bringing my face up to see his. My skin tingled under his fingers and I mentally scorned myself for still feeling like this around him. I bit my bottom lip again and he smiled at the sight before letting go and stepping back away from me. My body instantly started to cool down with the distance he put between us and I almost wanted to go running back to him so that I could feel safe again. What was I thinking! NO! He was the enemy, I had to get that through to myself, he wasn't safe.... he was dangerous!
He motioned for me take a seat and I did as I was told as with the story I was about to tell I didn't know if my legs were up to the task of holding me up.
“What do you already know?” I asked not wanting to tell him any more than I had to but he must have realised what I was thinking because he just gave me a warning,
“Keira...please be reasonable.” He said quickly going back to calling me the name I used. I instantly felt better hearing it.
“I know your name