The Unexpected Workout Partner

Caitlin ran to empire gym early Sunday morning. She swung open the front door no idea what she would find behind the door. She’d never been here but she always dreamed about this place. She had her hoodie pulled over her head, keeping her head down she quickly made her way through the extensive gym. She flew passed the concierge desk no one ever really noticed her anymore. There were a few quick glances from people as she made her way past the exercise equipment, no one had ever seen her in here before. They assumed she was a girl from her build and height, but she was completely covered. She eventually made it to the back of the gym, the training arena for boxing and MMA. She was looking for the owner, her oldest friend Owen. She had no where else to go. She hadn’t seen him in years, since she left for college. She prayed he would help her. All the trainers and fighters stopped when they saw this frail young woman walk through the doors. She kept her head down, only slightly raising it to find the office. She quickly ran to the office and banged on the door, she knocked on the door as hard as she could. she didn’t mean to, but she was so scared, her fear was coming out in her knocking. “What!” Screamed Owen from inside the office, clearly annoyed by the loud banging. She couldn’t get any words out; her whole body was shaking. She had no where’d left to go if he sent her away she would have to go back home. She wouldn’t survive the week. He swung open the door, ready to rip someone's head off. Yet all he saw was a shaking girl with her head bowed to the floor. He stopped dead in his tracks, “who the hell was this?” As he stared at her. She seemed oddly familiar, like someone he once knew but different. She didn’t say anything just shook where she stood. He waited for her to say something, but she just shook more and more as she stood there. He couldn’t make out her face, but her body was so skinny and frail, he could see it even with the hoodie and sweatpants she wore. She wasn’t saying anything, “come in my office”, he gestured toward his office. She nodded and walked inside without looking up, she just stood there in his office. He gestured for her to sit down, and she complied. This woman seemed to be in terrible condition, afraid and weak. He leaned down next to her and gently pushed back her hoodie. Her face was full of bruises and cuts, she was clearly embarrassed and ashamed. You could barely make out her face with the assault that had clearly happened several days ago. The bruises were green and purple, and the cuts were all scabbed over. The swelling was still bad. “Who did this to you?” He asked as gently as he could. Tears were forming in her eyes, “my husband” is all Caitlin got out. He knew that voice, he’d recognize it anywhere. She looked so frail and skinny, nothing, like the last time he saw her. She was beautiful and fierce, skinny but muscular and now she was skin and bones. “Caitlin?” He asked as she nodded, “I wasn’t sure you still remember me” she said honestly. He just wrapped his arms around her, he was going to kill whoever did this to her. He’d known her his whole life and they were best friends for years. “I’d never forget you, catty” Owen said gently. He was seething inside, but he had to be careful. She was clearly in a bad place. He could feel his body temperature rising, his body growing tense and the veins in his neck bulging. “Who could do this to her? She was his oldest friend, the sweetest and funniest person he’d ever known. She was strong and fierce when he knew her. How could she be this frail, beaten woman” he thought to himself. He wanted answers and he wanted to kill someone. He had always had a temper, as he got older it was better till, he saw catty all bruised up. He was a 15-year-old boy again about to rage. She slowly spoke to him, “I didn’t know where else to go” she said sadly. The rage disappeared for a moment and tears filled his eyes. “Your safe now, no one is going to hurt you” he said as gently as he could, holding back his tears. She wrapped her arms tight around him and sobbed into his neck for what seemed like hours. Finally, she managed to pull herself together. “I don’t have anywhere to go; I have no money and no job” she said sadly. She took a deep breath, “I’m staying at the women’s shelter on 5th, but I’m scared he’s going to find me there” she said with fear in her eyes. “Ive got you” is all he could manage to reply. There was a knock on the door which caused Caitlin to jump and shake. “Your safe” Owen said as he got up. He slowly opened the door, Milton one of the instructors was at the door. “What?” Owen asked annoyed. “Your 10AM boxing class is about to start” he said surprised by Owens’s reaction. He slowly peaked in to see Caitlin, full of bruises and cuts. “Ill teach the class for you” Milton offered. Caitlin quietly spoke up, “its ok Owen, go teach your class” she said without letting her voice shake. She was terrified but she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize this gym. Owen had dreamed about a gym like this since he was 16 years old. It took him years to gain the capital and make his dream come true. There was no way she was going to let anything mess this up for him. Owen was unsure about leaving her, but this class was important. Many new students were in it and he wanted to grow his gym.