Giselle

I was out of breath, laughing hysterically and entirely drunk as I and Tyler, my new friend, were stepping out to step outside for some air when I bumped into her.

"Goodness, I'm so…," I lifted my head to apologize to her and I recognized her, as she stood there with a guy who has his arm draped around her shoulder. A friend, from the looks of it.

"Giselle?" I tilted my head.

She stood for a moment staring at me, trying to remember where she knew me and then her eyes opened, and she suddenly looked amused.

"Coffee girl?" she started.

Weird. That's what I called her before I knew her name.

"Do you always do this? Go around bumping into people, or am I your special someone?" She said sloppily and I realized she was also drunk—because she was acting nice. Too nice. She even had a friendly smile on.

"I wish I could explain," I chuckled nervously, as I looked at her from head to toe.

She was extra beautiful today, she had bouncy dark hair—probably hair extensions, considering that a week ago she had shorter hair. Her lashes were longer, and her makeup was perfectly done. She carried herself with grace and I wondered whether I was just seeing all these things because I was drunk.

"Well, you don't look as bad as usual," she shrugged and I couldn't tell whether it was an insult or a compliment, "love what you did to the hair, Cruella."

Oh, that was her being nice.

"Thanks,Giselle," I replied.

"Catch you later, I guess," she said, "have fun," then she playfully tapped my arm when it hit me.

A rush of images, blinding, sharp, and horrible.

It was her, but different. I saw her sobbing, curled into herself as glass shattered against the wall beside her. A man loomed over her, he was tall, broad and tattooed. His rage was like a storm tearing through the room.

He threw a ceramic piece across the room and she flinched.

Another image formed in my mind of her caged in a corner. A bruise forming on her cheekbone. He paced around, his hands clenched into fists and his teeth bared as he hurled insults at her.

You're so pathetic, you think you can do without me? You're worthless. The words he spewed.

What the hell? I asked no one.

I sucked in a breath, as my exhilaration faded and reality slammed into focus.

She was walking away from me, laughing heartily at something her friend said, completely unaware that I had just seen her pain.

My stomach twisted and I felt nauseous. I wanted to reach for her, to say something, but I felt numb. What could I possibly say?

Could I tell her that I just saw everything she was going through and that her boyfriend is a monster who's putting her through a cycle of abuse? Could I have told her that I could help?

She'd think I was crazy, even to myself, I did sound crazy.

"Hey, you good?" Tyler asked bringing me back from my thoughts.

"Yeah," I lied forcing a smile, "I just got a little headache. I think I need more air than you do."

"Well, you couldn't take it easy on those tequila shots. You're a monster," he laughed.

"Oh please," I faked a laughter, swallowing hard, as my thoughts spiralled. Never in my life would I have thought someone like her was going through such torment.

.

Noo matter how much I tried to push it aside, the images stayed burned into my mind; she was in trouble, a whole load of it.

And now that I knew she was?

I didn't know what to do. Or where to start. Or if I was to do anything