Thug
Kristina Howells
Copyright © Kristina Howells 2011
Smashwords edition
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Foreword
This short story has been written to show the plight of many people in the world. Who go through similar circumstances? They fall in love and find out they are victims of domestic violence.
Kristina Howells is a writer who is able to involve the reader. She writes with passion as she tells the tale of an oil worker who is repatriated.
******
Gemma couldn’t help. But fancy the local lad who had just moved in next door.
‘I know you don’t I,’ he said, as she was with some friends at the local youth club.
‘Oh yeah, you’re my new neighbour,’ she blushed.
Gemma was a sixteen year old shop assistant. The lad called Andy was also sixteen. He was unemployed. He loved to wear a hoodie, masking his face from seeing the real person that he really was.
Gemma found him attractive. She liked the fact that he was secretive.
Whilst at the youth club Andy suggested they go back to her place. Gemma couldn’t resist. She brought him back home.
Gemma’s parents were often late home. They both had jobs that finished late. Gemma’s dad was a taxi driver, and her mother worked at the local pizza parlour.
Gemma liked being on her own in the evening. It meant that she could do what she liked.
Once inside the house Andy sat down on the sofa. Gemma put a film on and poured them both out a vodka and coke.
Soon Andy slipped his arm around Gemma’s shoulders, and started kissing her. Gemma gave in to his advances.
‘Can I see you again?’ he asked as Gemma showed him out.
‘Yeah no problems,’ she said.
Giving her a quick kiss goodbye before her parents arrived. Gemma closed the door.
Over the next few weeks Gemma and Andy became a regular item. Every evening whilst her parents were working, Andy would come round. They would watch TV together and get to know each other.
Then one evening, Gemma received a text message from her friend Sue.
‘It’s my birthday on Saturday night, I hope you can join me and come out with me.’
Gemma was pleased. It had been a while since they last went out together. She quickly replied and accepted the invitation.
Andy wasn’t too pleased. He wanted to go with her. Gemma didn’t like his reaction.
‘Maybe it’s just something and nothing,’ she thought as she prepared herself for the evening.
Andy had other ideas. Whilst Gemma was getting ready, he would help himself to the beers in the fridge.
Gemma unaware continued to look her best. When she had finished she returned to Andy.
‘How do I look?’ she smiled.
Andy didn’t say a word. Gemma could see rage building up in him.
‘What’s the matter? She asked.
‘You’ve got someone else,’ he snarled.
Before Gemma could reply, he came towards her with his fist raised. Gemma shocked, stood frozen as the sheer force of his punch hit her in the face.
Andy was now like a boxer, and Gemma his punch bag. He would continue to batter her. He had punched her in the head, and then all over her body.
‘Please stop,’ she cried.
Andy didn’t care, and just continued. He grabbed her right ankle with both of his hands. He tried to yank it away, grinning as he twisted her leg with all his might.
Gemma in absolute agony kept on crying ‘stop.’ But he kept on pulling at the ankle, even after the bone had snapped.
‘Now stand up,’ he demanded.
Gemma tried but she couldn’t. The ankle gave way under her. It was as if it was made of jelly. She could feel the bone crunching against the floor.
Andy could only watch and laugh.
‘You won’t be going anywhere,’ he spat as he ran out of the door.
Gemma all alone waited for her parents to arrive. Her mother was the first to walk through the door.
The sight of her daughter made her feel sick.
‘Who did this to you?’ she exclaimed.
‘Andy the hoodie next door,’ Gemma yelled.
Her mother wasted no further time. She called the police and an ambulance. In minutes the ambulance had arrived.
Once inside the hospital the pain had started to rip through her. She was howling in agony and struggled to stay conscious.
It took seven weeks before Gemma could be allowed to go home. She had to endure four operations. Surgeons had to put screws and a rod in her ankle to try and repair the break.
Eventually Andy was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm. Gemma’s mum had been her support. She helped the police convict Andy of this crime.
The judge had sent him to a young offenders institute for 5 years. Gemma suddenly realised, falling for a hoodie was the biggest mistake that she had ever made.
He had left her with a lifetime reminder. She had a huge scar on her ankle, and was left with a permanent limp.
Shortly after Gemma’s parents sold the house and moved away. Despite being happy that they are no longer neighbours. Gemma was suffering from the incident. This remained with her for the rest of her life.