After being stalked, beaten, and nearly raped by her scumbag ex, she wanted to go camping. More specifically, she wanted me to take her to my spot. I didn’t bother asking her how she knew about it. I was quickly learning my friends kept nothing from their women, and honestly, I was becoming exactly like them. She helped me pop up the simple tent and spread out our sleeping bags. We worked in comfortable silence, the heat not as oppressive in the thick thatch of trees we found far away from the usual camping spots. We were alone. Utterly alone. I watched her work, organizing our food and pulling out water bottles. She handed me one with a twinkle in her eyes. I fought to ignore the bruises. “I see why you like it here so much.” “You do?” The sunlight filtered through the treetops onto her golden hair like a halo. “Yeah. It’s peaceful. And beautiful.” “Can I show you something?” Her gaze snapped back to mine. “Sure.” I took her hand and led her along the hiking path I knew well.
