Maybe nothing would ever set it free, but if something did, I never wanted the people I was supposed to care about most in this world to come face-to-face with that part of me. I never want anyone to experience what I did growing up or what my mother did at the hands of my father.

When my cell dings with a message, I rub my hands down my face and spin my chair around to pick up my phone. As soon as I lift it off the top of my desk, the screen lights up, and a message from Franny unlocks.

The fear sitting in the middle of my chest feels heavy enough to crush my ribcage, lungs, and heart as I read it.

Franny: Leaving now. See you at the doctor’s office.

I want to back out, be a coward, and tell her that something came up and I can’t make it to the appointment. But an image of her soft smile pops into my mind, and I know I can’t do that to her.

I don’t want to do that to her.

When I asked if I could go to her doctor’s appointment, the question came out without me even thinking about it because I didn’t like the idea of her sitting alone in a cold room or even with her mom, who I know she loves, but obviously stresses her out.

I type the message and press Send before I can chicken out.

Me: I’ll see you there.

Getting up, I put my cell in my pocket, and grab my keys, shutting off the light before I leave my office and walk past Jamie’s desk.

She’s not here today, and she wasn’t here yesterday, or the day before that. I haven’t seen her since she left Monday morning, after our staff meeting. A meeting in which Billy brought up the news story that had gone out Sunday night.

The story wasn’t as damaging as it could have been and mostly focused on the elections coming up. Still, Billy decided to share that the rumors about him and Jamie—who was not named in the story—were lies. Then he laughed and said I would kick his ass if they were true since she and I have been dating. A few of the men in the room laughed along with him, like it was all a big fucking joke, but most of the people shared looks of doubt and disgust knowing he was lying.

While Jamie, who had been sitting across from me during the meeting, looked more hurt than embarrassed and asked if she could go home not long after that.

For my part I was pissed, the topic wasn’t something that he needed to address at a staff meeting, even if he was attempting to get in front of the rumors swirling around the office.