It Happened in July

I am waiting for Ryan to arrive at Melissa's unit to discuss the property settlement. Melissa has warned me that Ryan plans to follow me afterwards to find out where Dean lives. I must be careful when I leave here today. My visits with Tessa have given me confidence to handle the situation with Ryan. I am determined to discuss the property settlement, as he requested. Dean still doesn't trust Ryan and insists that I carry a personal alarm while he's here. Melissa has gone out. I hear a car outside the unit. It is one of the neighbours leaving. There is still one at home. That is good. Someone will be able to come to my aid if I need it. Then the last neighbour leaves. I am alone in the block of units. Now I am scared. I check my preparations. I have already put my overnight bag into my car. My handbag and Waffles' lead are ready on the couch near the door. The personal alarm is on the belt of my jeans, hidden underneath my loose top. My mobile phone is in my pocket. I am as ready as I can be. There is a knock at the door. Ryan has arrived. I take a deep breath, tell myself to be calm, and open the door. Waffles is pleased to see him. "Hi, Ryan." I welcome him and offer him a cup of tea, trying to act normally and be civil. He looks surprised. He stands near the dining table while I make the tea and doesn't sit down. I put his cup of tea in front of him and sit down, waiting for him to start. He doesn't say a word. He looks agitated. My intuition tells me to be wary. I decide to take the lead. I want to get this over quickly so he will leave. "Ryan," I say," I would like to sell both rental properties to clear the loans we have on them and then sell Flare Cres and split everything in half.” "Shut up, bitch, or I will hit you.” This is the attitude I expected, in spite of all the assurances Melissa made. It is clear he hasn't come here to talk about property settlement. I follow Tessa's advice—be firm, maintain my composure, and don't let him manipulate me. "I dont want you to speak to me like that. You said you wanted to discuss property settlement. Can we please do that?” He repeats himself. "Shut up, bitch, or I will hit you.” "I don't like you saying you are going to hit me. If you can't discuss this, then you should leave right now.”I stand up, indicating he should go. "I don't have to leave," he says. "Sit down, or I will hit you!” "You won't hit me. I have asked you not to say that. If you won't leave, then I will." I pick up my bag and Waffles' lead off the couch, ready to walk out of the door. Ryan moves quickly and blocks the doorway so I can't get out. I try to push past him, but he puts up his hand to stop me and pushes me back inside the room and onto the couch. The situation is out of control. I feel for the cord of the personal alarm and yank it hard. The high-pitched squeal brings Ryan to his senses. "Stop that noise at once!" he yells at me. "Not until you leave," I say, determined to remain in control of the situation. Ryan is pale and angry. I feel scared, but I mustn't let him see that. He must leave before I go to pieces. He seems surprised by my readiness for things to go wrong. He repeats himself. "Shut that thing up!” :Go away," I say. "You didn't come here to talk about property settlement. You just wanted an argument.” He finally realises that he has lost his chance and turns to leave. I lock the front door and put the pin back into the personal alarm. My ears are still ringing from the noise. Thank God for Dean and his thoughtfulness. That was so close—too close. Ryan has just proved my fears are correct. It isn't safe to be alone with him ever again. I sit down on the couch, wildly trying to work out what to do next. My hands are shaking, and I know I must leave before he comes back. Dean has told me many times that I should take out a restraining order. Now is the time to go to the police. I pick up my handbag and put on Waffles' lead. My car is just outside. I can't see Ryan anywhere. I reverse out of the driveway and head towards the Koonya Beach Police Station. I keep checking my mirrors. I can't see a car following me. Maybe I am safe. Maybe he has gone home. I sincerely hope so. My thoughts are in a jumble. I am still in a panic. I should have listened to my instinct and not trusted him. I pull into the police station car park. What shall I do with Waffles? He will have to stay in the car. I open the car windows for him a little. At least the day is cool so he should be all right for a little while. I am close to crying. I am nearly in a safe place. Has Ryan followed me? I can't see him. Perhaps he did go home. I walk into the police station. A male police officer is behind the desk. I look at him and promptly burst into tears, unable to contain them any longer as the shock of what nearly happened hits me. The police officer manages to understand the gist of my garbled story and asks me to take a seat and calm down. While I am waiting, my mobile phone rings; it is Jasmine.