11

Thea POV

Roy beats Henry as I run out the front door. I jump into his car, where Debbie is waiting. Debbie is crying and upset. She is worried about Roy. “Debbie, it will be okay. Roy is coming,” I say to her.

“Henry scares me sometimes,” Debbie says.

“Debbie, you are a grown woman. Don’t be afraid,” I say to her. I realize I should not have said that. Debbie may be a grown woman, but she does not want to be anything other than a little. To Debbie being in this state is what she wants.

Roy walks calmly out of the house. He is covered in blood. He gets into the car calmly. He looks back to check on Debbie and me and then drives away.

“What are you going to do with me?” I ask him.

“Thea, you can stay with me as long as you want, or I can take you home,” Roy says.

“I am afraid to go home. He might find me,” I say.

“Well, then, you are welcome to stay with Debbie and me,” Roy says.