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Dr. Martinez approaches the bed and sits on the chair beside me. “From where I was sitting, I only saw love, no anger, none at all.”
I flex my fingers, feeling nervous but knowing I need them. “Thank you, Doctor. I’d like to see them now.”
She stares, eyes filled with kindness. “Of course, but before you do, I want to discuss a few things. Some police officers are here, and they want your statement.”
“Oh.” Am I ready to relive everything? But what choice do I have if I no longer want to be weak, if I no longer want him to take everything else from me? Those bruises on my soul may hurt now, but with time they’ll heal, I know they will, until they’re nothing but a reminder that I went to war and won.
“I can tell them you’re not ready yet.”
“No. I want to. I won’t let him control me anymore. But before I speak to them, I want to speak to my loved ones.” I owe them the entire truth. It’s time they knew everything. No more secrets.
After she fills me in on the more pertinent details about my injuries, she goes to get my family. That’s what they all are to me, family. I never had anyone but my mother. It’s always been just us two, but not anymore.
“Hey Mom.” She comes in alone, her hand trembling over her lips. Seeing her so pained rips at my heart.
“Oh baby.” She rushes forward and gently envelopes me in her love. I lean my cheek against her chest and warmth fills me. I’m back to that little girl whose mother’s hugs could solve all of life’s problems.
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” I let out a sob, my body shattering.
“Shh, don’t you dare apologize for anything. You hear me?” She caresses my hair while I nod. “We’re going to get him for this, baby. Don’t worry about anything.” I lift my head away from her warmth, and wince as my face throbs.
She pulls up the yellow chair beside my bed and sits. “Are the pain meds helping? If not, I’ll go and make them give you more. I don’t want you hurting.”
“No, I’m okay. I promise. Is Lexi and Damian here too?”
“Yes, honey.” She squeezes my hand. “Do you want me to get them?”
“Yes, I want to talk to all of you.” It’s time to lay all my cards out on the table and tell everyone the truth even though I may not want to. Guess it’s a good thing I can’t see as well. Glass half full kind of moment.
She kisses my hand then shifts the chair, its legs scraping against the floor. “Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be right back.” A sudden chill runs up my arms, sending goosebumps in its wake.I can do this.
The light thud of multiple footsteps gets closer and closer as my stomach twists into knots.
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly as they all walk in. Lexi approaches, while Damian stops dead in his tracks huffing in and out. My eyes begin to water at seeing him so upset, but I will them away, wanting to appear stronger.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Lexi cries, placing her cheek against my shoulder. “I’ll let you two have a moment,” she whispers against my ear.
“Thanks Lex.” She joins my mother on the other side of the room, to give us some privacy I’m sure.
Still finding him frozen by the doorway I call to him, needing to feel him close. “Come here.” Hand gripping the back of his head, he approaches while attempting to smile, but unlike me he’s terrible at faking it.
Once he’s near, he leans down and kisses my forehead. “So, on a scale of one to you’d fuck me right now, how good do I look?” I whisper, smiling through the pain. Would he even want me if I’m ugly? Ash always told me that the only thing I ever had going for me were my looks. Without them, he’d say, no man would ever want me. Maybe he wasn’t wrong.
“Baby. Fuck. I’m gonna kill him.” His voice is low, but I hear the anguish as if it was clearly written across every word.
He leans down, close to my ear, his hot breath against my skin. “But if you think you’d ever turn me off, you must not know how I feel about you. I want to kiss you so badly, it hurts.” I try not to cry but his words hit me hard. I never felt this wanted before. I never felt like I was enough. I finally do.
“What’s stopping you?” I ask.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. That’s the one place I’m not broken.”
He doesn’t hesitate, his breath skates across my cheek and reaches my parted mouth, just as his hand lands softly across my neck. Full lips wrap around mine, moving slow, measured but in perfect sync together. The world melts away with each breath we exchange, and in this moment my mind only knows him. He breathes life into me once more, like the day he heard me cry and stilled the ever-growing storm. The quickening of his breath matches mine as we kiss deeply, not wanting it to end.
“Get a room, you two…Oh wait.” Lexi laughs.
We part quickly, but not before he gives me another kiss. “I missed you so much, baby.” Lexi and my mom let out a collective aww. Yep, he’s all mine. Even on my dark days, he finds a way to make me smile.
