KT froze as AJ held the knife to her throat. She could feel blood trickling down and onto her shirt. AJ held the knife so close and hard to KT’s skin, it started to slice through a bit.
After being frozen as well Seven jumped to action. She grabbed AJ and her hand that held the knife from behind and pulled her away. She twisted her wrist until she let the knife fall to the floor. Sobbing, AJ fell to the floor beside it.
“Are you crazy?” KT screamed at AJ, kicking the knife farther away.
“Calm down.” Seven answered for AJ. “Everyone just calm down.”
“Calm down!?” KT continued to scream. “What the hell do you mean calm down? She almost killed me!”
“Calm down.” Seven repeated, this time raising her voice just a little. “She’s not thinking straight. Just relax.”
Seven bent down and scooped AJ into her arms. AJ was still crying softly as she pressed her face unto Seven’s body to hide her shame.
Seven carried AJ into her bedroom and put her back under the covers. She pulled the curtains back a little, to let in some light. Walking back over to the bed, she caressed AJ’s cheek and thought to herself, I’ll never let you push me away again.
Seven shut the bedroom door behind her as she walked back out to the living room.
“Let me see your neck.” Seven asked KT, walking over towards her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” KT answered. “I’m good. It’s just a scratch. I thought I was done for. “
The both chuckled a bit, both trying to make light of the situation. KT already washed the knife and put it back in it’s holder on the counter beside the cutting board.
“So what do we do now?” KT asked, plopping down on the couch. “Do we protect her? Maybe we could take shifts coming by and staying over.”
“No.” Seven responded. “How long do you think that will last?” Seven paced back and forth, she remembered how her grandmother would have handled the situation. She never coddled her. She made her strong by telling her she had to be. She could hear her grandmother’s words floating in her head, “Baby girl, I can not fight your battles. Trust in the Lord and be strong. That’s the only way to get through.”
“We can’t fight this battle for her.” Seven continued after her moment of thought. “We can be there for her, but this is something AJ is going to have to do on her own. She needs to feel safe again and remember how strong she is. And she need to do it without slicing every guest that walks through the door.” Seven made her last comment with a slight chuckle.
“Oh, that’s funny?” KT asked raising her eyebrow. She couldn’t help but smile though. “Well next time, you’re walking in first. No more encounters with sharp object for me sis.”
“No problem. Don’t worry. She’ll get through this. Trust me” Seven walked into the kitchen intent on making AJ something to eat. She has to be starving.
Thirty minutes later, AJ was sitting up in bed, eating the omlete and toast that Seven made for her. Seven and KT stayed in the living room to give her space.
“So you didn’t think I was going to be hungry too?” KT joked and pushed her sister over. “Seriously though, how are we going to help her through this?”
“I’m not sure. She needs some type of closure. She needs to feel strong again.” Seven answered, thinking of how they could get her to see how amazing she is for surviving the attack.
RING…RING
KT grabbed the phone. “Hello…Oh hi Mrs. Savage. Yes, she’s good. Oh really? Should we….. Okay. Yes, ma’am. You too. Buh bye.”
“What was that about? Is Mrs. Savage coming back to town?” Seven pressed KT for information.
“No.” KT answered, still staring at the phone. “Mr. Savage had some long lost sister and she’s flying in to burry him here. She wants to speak with AJ.”
