Marta continued to cling to Ezra’s clothes and body lest he disappear. How could this happen, so soon after meeting? How could Marta’s presence already being causing problems for Ezra? And was she really going to allow this to keep happening? She was truly a fool to believe everything would work out. But she couldn’t turn her cheek, she couldn’t pretend it all hasn’t happened. Obviously she had made things worse, but Marta still couldn't stay away. It was like some supernatural force was pulling her towards Ezra. She should have fled the minute Oscar attacked her. Better yet, she should have never come back today. But she did. 

Her tears began to lessen, and she heard Ezra explain that they didn’t do much physical harm to him, though it was obvious he was shaken up once again. But he seemed to be holding it together fairly well. Marta would have felt awful if he went into a panic attack like that last night and became nonfunctional. If Marta’s presence didn’t kill Ezra, it would at least drive him mad. She wasn’t worth that so why did she come back? Because Ezra was worth dying for. 

When Ezra asked why she didn’t leave when she saw Oscar and the other men, Marta began to say, “I did see them and I turned to leave, but they caught…”

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she was about to admit to being attacked, but she didn’t want Ezra to know. She deserved her pain, the current pain aching in her gut. She was sure there would be a bruise where Oscar hit her. But Ezra mustn’t know because it validated all of his reasons for why this was the stupidest thing for her to do. And yet she also knows, if he found out, he would take care of her, like he always did when she was hurt and broken. He was just that wonderful.

She carefully followed Ezra behind the counter, watching him getting tea cups out to make them a beverage. At the moment, Marta didn’t want anything or deserve anything. She had to let Ezra know how she knew Oscar.

“Ezra, I need to tell you the truth. I know Oscar. He is my friend Sarah’s brother… when I left last night, they drove by me and offered me a ride home...while in the car, Oscar made a horrible comment about this community and I snapped. I told him he was wrong, and how a family who owned a bakery helped me… I didn’t give him your name, I swear! But he must have figured it out...when I saw him come out of the bakery today, I knew. I knew he was the one to give you the scars on your body… I am so sorry! This is all my fault! Everything is my fault, I have been such a fool. You tried to make me see that, but I’ve been too stubborn. I am ruining everything!”

Her voice was rushed and breathless. She held onto the counter for support, in case she toppled over from fear and pain, and her other hand clutching her stomach. The tears once again returning. It was a battle to keep the sobs from heaving from her chest, cause the pain in her stomach doubled every time she did. What a disaster she has created.