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"Hope, when you come downstairs don’t hide."
I continued to walk into the bathroom closing the door behind me. Standing in front of the mirror, I look at myself for the first time in a very long time.
I think about Leo's words about not hiding, but I know Jackson's downstairs. Leo is trying to help me, and Iwilltry. I’ll push every negative thought away and really try to pushtheirvoices away too, and I'll let Leo help me.
* * *
Walking downstairs, I hear Leo and Jackson talking about Florida. I knew I had to tell them one day where I came from. I wasn’t going to tell them how I got here. That is a time that I really don’t want to replay.
Standing by the table next to Leo I ask, "Would you guys like some lunch?" It might not be very loud, but it's louder than how I normally ask. I'm trying, and I realize that Jackson's here all the time.
Jackson looks at me and I see him smile. My head isn’t held high, but it’s not low either. "Sandwich please."
Walking into the kitchen, I turn back to see Leo following me and I'm not sure what it is about him, but I smile; something I haven't done in a very long time.
"So, I thought you were beautiful before, but when you smile," Leo stops and moves my hair behind my ear, "you take my breath away." His thumb gently strokes my bottom lip before leaning in to kiss me. "I hope you smile more every day," he whispers against my lips.
"One day at a time." That's what it's going to be for me. Every day is going to be hard, but with Leo, I think, no Iknow, I’ll smile once again.
"And I'm here with you. Every day until you feel safe again and can make it on your own," Leo tells me, and I'm taken by surprise with his words.
I look into his eyes. I thought I would stay with him, but it looks like he has other plans.
"I thought I would stay here," I tell him. I don’t want to be alone again. I don’t want to be scared again.
"I’m happy you want to stay here but remember one thing; I’m not holding you here. There is the door. You can leave when you want to leave. I just have one rule. Just tell me you’re leaving."
"I’m not leaving," I answer.
"Good." His lips touch mine again and I can’t help but smile again. "I got you something."
I watch him walk away, and I start getting everything ready to make lunch.
He returns quickly. "I got you a phone so that I can call you when I'm at work and a backpack so you can keep your lotion in there." Leo puts the backpack on the counter, and I just stare at the two things.
"I… Thank you," pulling the bag closer to me. I can see that he's already put my lotion in there.
"I've put mine and Jackson's numbers in the phone." He starts to show me how to use it, but I can't keep up.
“Can you slow down, please?"
He's going too fast for me, and I don't know what he's doing. I can feel him staring at me. "Is this your first phone?"
"Yes," I reply. I can feel my cheeks getting warm, and I look at the floor as I tuck my hair behind my ears.
“Once we have eaten, I’ll show you how it works." Placing the phone on the counter, he takes my hand in his. "I was thinking of an early afternoon walk, what do you think?”
“If I’m not feeling too tired."
Leo walks over to Jackson as I get lunch ready for us. I keep glancing over at the backpack. I've never been given a gift before so it will be something to treasure forever.
* * *
I listen to them both talking about finding people that use the horrible website so they can find the man they both want.
Jackson sits on the seat next to me. "So beautiful, let’s get you and this phone connected.” I move a little so that there’s a gap between us. Jackson doesn’t say anything and instead starts talking about the features on the phone, placing it in front of me as he tells me about how it works.
“So I just sent you a message, what do you do?" Jackson says as my phone beeps. I turn my head a little to look at him, then back to the phone.
