I’m Case Of Emergency Call:
Jack lay by himself in a pool of his own blood, he tried to block out the pain, after all he should be used to it by now, but that’s what hurt him the most, the fact that he was used to it. And That’s what made him cry, he cried so hard that his throat ached. After a while he slowly got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face, he was determined to make sure Taylor never knew how much he cried, he couldn’t give her that satisfaction. He sank to the floor once again and dug his phone out of his pocket, he hadn’t dared put Monica’s number in his phone, but he had a back up phone he kept in his suitcase, Taylor never looked there, he was careful, he never used it in front of her, but when she was gone, that was his lifeline, Monica was his lifeline. He was glad he’d memorised her number, he knew this day might come, he just didn’t think it would be off the back of him trying to push Monica away yet again.
Monica was out with the girls trying to forget about what happened, her phone had been vibrating for two minutes straight, annoyed she went outside and answered it:
”Hello”? She answered, a hint of frustration in her voice.
”Hey“…. Jack answered quietly: “i missed you so much”.
”Jack”? “why are you calling from your main phone what’s going on”?
”Nothing I just…. Needed to hear your voice”.
Monica sighed exasperate: “You can’t keep doing this to me Jack, you can’t keep pushing me away then pulling me back when you miss me or you’re feeling vulnerable, you”-
“I know, I know I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’m such a mess”. despite his best efforts he broke down again,
Monica hated it when Jack cried , she could feel her heart break every time: “Hey… hey it’s ok, let’s start over yeah”? “I can come over if you want”.
Jack cleared his throat, trying to compose himself: “No, no don’t I’m fine, what are you up to”? “Tell me about your day”.
Monica paused: “You don’t sound fine, where’s Taylor”?
Jack: “I don’t wanna talk about her please, please just… tell me about your day”.
”Jack”-
“Mon please”.
Monica sighed, she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach but it seemed like he needed to be distracted, she made a note to come back to that afterwards: “Well, today was my day off as you know so I had a lay in, hung out with Beth and Em, and I’ve just been with them all day really”. She purposefully left out the part about the club, not wanting to upset him further.
Jack nodded: “How are they”? “Any news”?
“Yeah, yeah they’re good, Beth tried to make chocolate chip cookies that came out rock hard”.
Jack laughed: “Wow, hope you didn’t break your teeth”.
Monica laughed too: “She’s lucky I didn’t or I’d have to sue”.
Jack laughed again: “Anything new with Em”?
”Yeah she’s going on vacation next week, France I think”.
Jack sighed wistfully, closing his eyes: “I’d love a vacation right now”. He whispered
”Mm me too, so what have you been up to all day then”?
”I was working from home today”. He swallowed: “That’s why Taylor was”- He stopped himself, realising what he was about to say.
”That’s why Taylor what Jack”?
Jack shook his head: “Nothing, don’t worry about it”.
”baby I am worried, I can’t help you if you keep shutting me out like this, at least tell me where you are”.
”I’m still at home”.
”Ok and where’s Taylor”?
Jack’s lip quivered: “She’s out, went for a walk I think”.
”Ok, will you tell me what happened”?
“We had an argument… I’ve been trying so hard to make it work… I love her so much Mon”…
Monica winced: “yeah… I know you do baby”.
Jack: “You know I’ve been taking a lot of time off work lately to spend more time with her, I didn’t want her to feel neglected, but I couldn’t do it forever you know”?
”Yeah, I know babe”.
”She said she didn’t mind me working from home but then… I don’t know i think she was trying to show me something, I was in a meeting so I snapped, told her to go”… He swallowed another lump in his throat: “When I’d finished I apologised, she wouldn’t talk to me at first but I kept trying, she said I needed to stop putting everything else before our relationship, I told her I wasn’t, that that meeting was important, she wasn’t having it, anyway we argued some more and then…. Then she pushed me, I fell against the fridge and she shoved me onto the floor and started kicking me, I tried to get up, I really did but she kept pushing me down and then she’d kick harder, she hates it when I try to fight back”… Jack was in tears again.
”Ok… Thank you for telling me, you’re so brave baby, I’m gonna come over and be with you ok”?
Jack jumped: “No no don’t come please, I don’t know when Taylor’ll be back and she can’t see you here please”-
“You shouldn't be alone right now we can figure something out”-
“No please”. Jack’s whole body trembled with fear.
Monica sighed again: “Ok, ok well get some ice for your back and I’ll stay on the phone with you ok”?
Jack nodded: “Thank you”. He got up, took off his shirt and cleaned up as much of the blood from his back as he could, then went to get some ice from the freezer, wrapping it in a cloth.
”How is it”?
Jack let out a breath: “Helpful”.
”That’s good, tell me what else you need”.
”Tell me what you’ve been doing these past couple weeks, tell me anything”.
”Well aside from working, I finally watched that film you told me about, the one with the creepy talking doll”.
”Finally”! “What did you think”?
”Yeah it was pretty freaky but honestlh after Chucky i think I’ve been desensitised“. Jack chuckled then hissed in pain. ”I’m sorry, I wish I could be there with you”.
Jack shook his head again: “It’s too risky”.
Monica sighed, closing her eyes: “Maybe j can be there in spirit, close your eyes”. Jack did so: “Imagine me holding you, my fingers running through your hair, my lips softly kissing your forehead”. Jack sighed: “You are so valued, and wanted and strong and worthy and special, you’re kind and funny, smart, you are one of the best people j know”.
Jack let out another long breath, resting his head on the table as he took in her words: “Hm, better than being told how worthless and stupid I am”.
”She’s a liar, but you’re safe now, I’m right here baby, don’t be scared ok”? Jack nodded: “Everything’s gonna be ok”. Monica whispered.
”Don’t leave me… please”. Jack whispered back, beginning to drift off.
”I’m not going anywhere, I promise”.
”I love you Mon”. Jack mumbled as he fell asleep.
Monica froze, she didn’t know if he meant it or if he was just feeling overwhelmed with everything that was going on, she’d wanted him to say that for weeks, her heart hammered against her chest, she could hear Jack’s breathing slow and even out: “I love you too Jack”. She whispered her reply, fairly certain he hadn’t heard.