by Lisa Powell
They noticed after Misty was there for a while Vince started to relax. But when he touched her or she touched him. His heart rate would quickly elevate. It was her that was causing this. But it was because of the feeling he held for her. His heart would start beating so fast, so quickly. Everything else had to play catch up to it. They finally figured out the problem. Vince was having panic attacks. Now they needed to control them.
Whenever he saw her, he would panic she would leave. When he touched her or she touched him, he was afraid he would hurt her. He would panic and that set off all his symptoms. And that night she showed up. He already knew she was leaving, he calmed himself. But when she came back and the love they shared overwhelmed him. He didn’t want to let her go. And when they walked back into the party, the fear of her leaving, set off the first attack.
CHAPTER 9
Misty stayed with Vince until he was released from the hospital. But he knew she couldn’t stay forever. Even though they talked about a relationship, it was hard. It was really hard on him, when Misty had to leave to go back to the city. She told him she would return on the weekend but it didn’t seem to help. He actually thought he was having a heart attack. He had to calm himself down.
Misty had to do something to prove to him she would come back. Misty started blaming herself for all this and she started to feel guilty. She felt if she didn’t have that stupid fantasy none of this would have happened. As it got closer to the weekend Vince started having little attacks. They put him on medications to help with them. When Misty didn’t show when she said she would. Vince started panicking even more. When she pulled in his drive he had almost lost control. Misty had to calm him down. He kept asking why she was late where she was. She told him traffic was bad and she got stuck in a traffic jam. Misty had a hard time dealing with this. It was like he was controlling her life again. She couldn’t deal with the driving and the worry. So she decided to move back home. She moved in with Kimmy and got her old job back. This way she would be closer to Vince. Her guilt was eating her up. She was blaming herself. She felt like she had to take care of him now. Misty spent most of her time with Vince. It was like she moved there instead of with Kimmy.
Vince seemed to improve a lot since Misty was back. He didn’t have a wandering eye and he stayed true to her. The passion they shared was exhilarating and they both felt it.
He didn’t have black outs and he hasn’t hurt her, even when they got into a fight. He hasn’t showed any sign of abusiveness or aggression towards her. But Misty was always on her guard. She never really trusted him but who could blame her. Vince’s panic attacks seem to disappear and everyone thought he was getting better.
One night they all went out and everyone was having a good time. And Vince noticed a guy kept staring at Misty and he didn’t like it. Vince asked Misty who he was but she said she didn’t know. Vince watched Misty and she acted as if she really didn’t know who he was. Vince felt a little panic and he felt jealousy. These two feelings he hasn’t felt in a very long time. That night when they got home Vince’s mind was in a panic state.
When he and Misty went to bed he pulled her on top of him. He started to love her then he stopped. Misty sat straight up and looked at him.
“What’s wrong Vince?”
He reached out with both his hands and put them on her breast.
“Who was he?”
“Who was who Vince?”
“That guy Misty”
“I told you Vince I don’t know.”
Vince started to squeeze her and Misty started to panic. Vince drew his legs up and sat up. He let go of Misty’s breast put his arms around his legs and pulled himself close to her. He was almost crushing her between his body and knees.
“I am asking you one more time Misty.” Vince voice was low and chilling.
There was no way Misty could get away from him. She saw how he was breathing. She looked into his face. She saw a blank stare. Misty had to calm down. She knew right then the way he looked, the way he was breathing. Something was happening to him. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, not on purpose. All the other times she never really looked at him. She was too scared. She thought the way he breathed, he was just excited. But now she knows it was something different.
She took a deep breath. “Vince,” she called his name softly.
He just sat there and looked at her. She called his name again. His breathing started to change.
“Vince are you okay Vince?” she kept calling his name.
Soon Vince was actually looking at her. Then he started to tear, when he realized what he was doing.
“You’re okay Vince you’re okay.” Misty said and she pulled him to her.
Vince put his arms around her and held her tight. “I am so sorry Misty. I thought I was healed,” and he started to choke.
“You didn’t hurt me Vince. You’re okay,” she said and she kissed his head. After a few moments Misty released him and got off him.
“What’s the last thing you remember Vince?”
Vince lay there trying to think. “I remember pulling you on me thinking how beautiful you were. I wanted to reach out and touch you and love you. The next thing I remember is you calling for me Misty.” Vince turned and looked at her. “What did I say? What did I do?”
Misty told Vince what he said and done. They both knew Vince had more of a problem. Something else was triggering him to black out. Something was making him feel anger, lose control. They needed to find out what. Misty said she would be with him stay by his side. And try to find out what the problem was. She did truly love him now, as he did her. But something was wrong with him and they had to find out what.
A couple days passed and Vince saw that guy again. But this time the guy would look at Vince and smile. Vince went up to the guy and questioned him. Of course Vince scared the guy. But then the guy handed Vince a magazine. It was an adult magazine. The guy showed Vince a few pages and Vince was blown away. He couldn’t believe what he saw. Now he knew why the guy stared at Misty. Now he knew why the guy smiled at him!
Vince went home he didn’t know what his feelings were. He had to compose himself and he waited for Misty.
Misty got to Vince’s. She thought it a bit odd the house was dark. She walked in and called for Vince. When he didn’t answer she got a little worried. She went to reach for the light and Vince grabbed her hand.
“What did you do in the city Misty,” he said in a chilling voice.
Misty was spooked. Vince pulled her in the house. He closed and locked the door.
Misty had to keep calm. “I worked Vince that’s all I did.”
Vince pulled her towards the kitchen. He had her arm so tight he turned on the light.
“Worked huh? Did you enjoy your work Misty?”
“Vince what is wrong with you?” she looked at him. He scared her but she had to stay calm.
“Is this what you call work Misty?” he threw the magazine at her.
Misty started looking through it then she froze. She looked at Vince looked back at the photos. She went to the next page then the next.
“Is that the kind of work you do Misty?” he squeezed her even tighter. “What other things do you do?” And he pulled her closer.
“Vince stop! Look at me this isn’t me Vince.” Misty started to tear.
“How can you say that’s not you Misty?” Misty felt his warm breath on her neck. Misty really started to panic. Whoever was in those pictures looked just like her. Misty started to shake, she started freak. Then she saw something the girl had she didn’t.
“Vince please I can prove this isn’t me!” Misty cried.
Vince pulled away and looked at her. “Prove it Misty. Prove to me that’s not you.” He sneered at her
Now Misty was angry more angry then scared. How could Vince think she would do something like this! She pushed him back. She took the magazine shaking it at him. “You have study me Vince. Just to make sure remember?” she took the magazine and threw it at him.
“Well study those pictures Vince. Look real hard and tell me what you see. What does that girl have that I don’t!?” Misty shouted. Misty stood there as Vince looked again.
Vince looked but at first he didn’t see anything. “I don’t see anything Misty it’s you!” he shouted.
“Look, again!” she shouted back at him.
Vince was starting to think clearer, just seeing her so upset like this. He looked again. He looked and looked at the pictures. He started to really look. He quickly glanced up at Misty turned the page then the next. He put his hand over his mouth. He sat down on the chair just staring at the pictures. The sound of a door slamming got his attention. And what happened next shocked him. A few minutes later Misty came out. She was naked she stretched her body out like the girl in the picture was and said. “Now where is mine Vince?”
Vince just sat there staring. How could two women look so much alike? Almost as if they were twins. A few seconds went by Misty turned around. “Misty I am sorry.” Vince softy said.
“I have heard that before,” and she left the room. Vince heard a door slam. He got up went to the bathroom. He could hear Misty crying. He started tapping on the door.
Finally Misty came out. He went to reach for her.
“Please don’t touch me Vince,” she cried.
“Misty I don’t know what to say.”
“After everything Vince, everything! How could you possibly think that was me?” she was shaking hysterically.
“It was hard not to Misty,” he looked at her.
“I thought you knew me Vince. I thought you trusted me. After everything I have done and gone through with you. I don’t think I can do it anymore! You had me terrified tonight Vince.” She looked at him.
“Misty I need you, can’t you see that. I don’t know what’s happening to me or why.” He looked at her.
Misty took a deep breath and said. “I am afraid you’re going to kill me Vince.”
When Misty said that Vince’s whole world came crashing down on him. His heart fell to the floor. The feeling he had was indescribable for her to think or say that. He just stood there and looked at her. Not believing she actually said it. But by the look on her face he knew she actually believed it.
After that night Vince went back in for test. Everything checked out fine. His heart was fine. Everything was working properly. They did a brain scan, no tumors nothing. His panic attacks were being controlled. The only thing that was left was mental.
Vince didn’t want to go see a therapist. But seeing the look on Misty face, when she said she was afraid he was going to kill her! Changed his mind. They filled the therapist on everything. The entire test he had done and what happened to him. The therapist wanted to know when all this started. Vince really couldn’t pin point things. They all thought it was because of his heart and thought everything was fixed until recently. They told the therapist the events of their first encounter up until the magazine.
Misty had to tell the therapists when he started getting abusive, because Vince couldn’t remember. It pained Vince to sit and listen to it. The way she explained how things happened and what he did. But there was a pattern and the therapists noted it and pointed it out to both of them. Vince would grab Misty back her up against a wall. He would press his body up against her in almost every occurrence. Make her apologize then beg. They knew about the apologizing and begging. But didn’t realize the way he repeated the pattern. Now they had to find out why and what triggered it.
They started going backwards in Vince’s life before he met Misty. Vince told the therapists he talked to a few of his old flames. They told him he wasn’t like that. He wanted to know why he was doing it himself, and was trying to find out. Vince told the therapists that after he met Misty. No one he was with could satisfy him anymore, like she could. This embarrassed Misty, but things had to be told. Vince said no matter how many times he tried, he just wasn’t satisfied. Then he told the therapist he realized it must be love. And he didn’t want to admit it. So he punished her for him falling in love. And that’s when things got worse. They started working backwards from there.
It took several sessions and it didn’t seem like they were getting any closer. They reached back to Vince’s first sexual encounter and nothing was unusual about it. So far his home life seemed to be okay as well. Vince started thinking it was a waste of time. And Misty was ready to give up hope. They started to argue about it, but they were normal arguments nothing became of them. Until one day Vince decided he didn’t want to go anymore. He started walking away from Misty. Misty reached out and grabbed him. Vince spun around grabbed her hand backed her up against the wall and said “Don’t ever put your hands on me!” in a low chilling voice.
This startled Misty but she had to calm herself. She started calling him softly. His breathing was so elevated she thought he was going to pass out. His eyes were dark they spooked her. After a few minutes of her calling him his breathing slowed. She noticed if she didn’t fight him, and just called him. He didn’t do anything he just stood there. Soon he relaxed he was looking at her normal
“What happened Misty?” he questioned he was choked. Seeing the way he had her and backed up against the wall.
“I still think we need to go Vince,” she said and started to tear.
He pulled her to him. He kissed her then hugged her and held her. “I think your right,” and he closed his eyes tight to hold back the tears. They went and told the therapists what happened. Misty had to tell because Vince didn’t remember.
“Why when she grabbed you Vince why do you think you said that?” the therapist asked
“I don’t know.”
Then Misty thought for a few minutes “Wait that time you cheated on me. When I slapped you.” She looked at both of them. “You told me never to strike you again.” Misty said.
“But I have never been abused.” Vince said.
“Are you sure?” asked the therapists
“Yes positive my parents never abused us kids. We got spanked now and again but never abused.”
They started going back farther into Vince’s past. Through his teenage years seem to be normal. Now they were in to his childhood years. When they got to the age 10 that’s when they found out where it all began. Vince’ was traumatized and had suppressed memories. And the therapist found out firsthand what some of Misty went through and what Vince did.
He was talking about a summer camp he went to. The counselors there were nice. There was this one counselor all the young boys fell in love with. She was beautiful. Vince remembered and smiled. She had long dark hair like Misty. She was nice and helped everyone. But she had a very jealous boyfriend and he worked there as well. Vince remembers him grabbing her at times. But one night Vince was up, when he wasn’t supposed to be. He was out at the docks. He heard someone coming so he hid. Vince stopped speaking at this point and Misty touched his arm. Vince started to breath rapidly. He grabbed Misty up and started pushing her back towards the wall. Misty started to call for him, but the therapists told her to stop.
“What do you see Vince?” the therapists ask.
“You shouldn’t have embarrassed me Misty,” Vince’s voice was low and chilling.
Misty just looked at the therapists the therapists told her to be quiet.
Vince had Misty pushed back up against the wall. He pushed his body against hers.
He grabbed the back of her hair and pulled her head back. Misty started to panic and the therapist told her to stay still.
“Vince what do you see? What do you hear? Vince?” the therapists called him.
Vince stopped his breathing slowed. “He has her against the wall. She is crying trying to get away,” Vince stopped looked at Misty. He released her put his hand over his mouth.
He started backing away. “What else do you remember Vince?” asked the therapist.
“I don’t know I can’t remember,” he replied his voice was straining. Misty slowly walked up to him. “Stay away Misty!” Vi
nce put his hand out.
“Vince I want to help please don’t push me away not now,” she started to cry.
Vince fell back into the chair. He looked up at both of them and said. “Three months after camp was over,” he took a deep breath. “They found that girl, she was murdered.”
Misty gasps and put her hand to her chest. The therapists didn’t know what to think.
“Do they know who killed her Vince?” asked the therapist.
“I heard my parents talk about it. They always thought the boyfriend. But it never was proved.” Vince just sat there.
Misty was now more scared than ever and Vince could tell. He wanted her to leave now. He was afraid more than her. He couldn’t remember what he saw. But whatever he did see. He was doing the same things to Misty. Now he was of afraid of Misty words, he would try and kill her.
The next few sessions they realized Vince did and done bits and pieces of things to Misty. And he was replaying that night. When he got upset or mad or when certain things set him off. But that night when he held Misty up against the wall, was the worst part he saw. Finally they made a break through and Vince remembered everything. He then told them exactly what happened and it chilled them all.
“He had her there, she was crying. He said she embarrassed him. He lifted his hand like he was going to hit her. But she grabbed him he stopped. He then told her never to grab him. She pulled away trying to get away. She went to strike him and he grabbed her other hand. He told her never to strike him. He held both her arms above her head. I saw her feet almost off the floor,” he stopped when Misty started to tear up.
“She begged him to let her go. But he kept telling her she had to learn a lesson. He stepped between her legs and she started screaming for him to stop. I saw her feet leave the floor. I closed my eyes and covered my ears, but I still heard her. Then he dropped her. She fell to the floor and she saw me,” he stopped and looked at both of them. He took a deep breath then continued.
“She was crying and shaking. Her face was swollen. She brought her fingers to her lips and went… shhhh. I nodded my head. He sat down right next to where I was hiding. I could see his legs. He told her to get up and come to him, she did. He told her she shouldn’t make him upset like that. He told her to say she was sorry, she did. I heard him kissing her. He told her how good she made him feel. I saw him lay her on the floor. All I could see was their legs. He was on top of her. She sounded like she was okay, but she probably was scared. I covered my ears but I still could hear them. He kept telling her how much he loved her. And how good she made him feel. He told her she shouldn’t make him angry. He told her to say she was sorry, she did” He stopped and looked at Misty. “Were you scared Misty?”