Rapped While I Slept

When she woke in the early hours Holly's attacker was on top of her

- Cher Hasmer, Harriet Rose-Gale

Holly 25,

Unscrewing the bottle of white wine, I poured myself a large glass.

‘I need this,’ I sighed to my mate Kerry.

It was last July, and I’d had the worst day. I’d bumped into my ex while out shopping in town.

We’d broken up months ago, and things had ended on a sour note. Seeing him had brought everything flooding back.

Down and miserable, I’d needed cheering up. So Kerry had popped over with a bottle of wine.

We were so busy chatting and gossiping, we forgot all about having dinner.

‘I’m starving,’ I told Kerry at around 9pm.

She texted our mate John Amos, 27, and asked if he’d bring us a takeaway. And, an hour later, he arrived with kebabs and chips for each of us.

‘Tuck in,’ he said, handing me mine.

The three of us stayed up chatting. But, after devouring my chips, I started feeling sick.

I thought I’d only drunk two glasses of wine, but somehow I must’ve lost count.

Before I knew it, I was hugging the toilet and throwing up.

Kerry had fallen asleep downstairs, so John held my hair back for me.

‘It’s OK,’ he reassured me. ‘I’m here for you.’

I felt awful, though, and my head was pounding and fuzzy. But, as I continued to be sick, John stroked my back.

‘I’ll never let anyone hurt you,’ he whispered in my ear.

Despite the state I was in, I remember thinking his comment was a bit weird.

John had asked me out years ago, when I was single. I’d turned him down, told him I didn’t feel that way.

A gentleman, he’d accepted what I’d said, and our friendship hadn’t changed. But now I was worried he still had feelings for me.

John helped me into bed, and put a bucket on the floor in case I felt ill again. My head spinning, I must’ve blacked out.