When hope grows

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏

"Where do you think you're going?" This is the first thing I say to Claudia when I go to see if she's alright.

"I'm already late for the last viewing but I will call the owner and tell her to wait for me" She's wrapped in the sheet and she's looking for new clean clothes.

Is she out of her mind? She has been attacked a few hours ago and now she wants to go out? Her face is still wet and her nose is red from the tears. Not to mention the dry blood on her wrists.

"Why?" I let out. Not being sure about what topic I'm asking her why.

"What do you mean why?" She rolls her eyes not even peeking at my figure.

I didn't answer. I block her view and with my back I shut the closet close, glancing straight at her tired eyes. Her eyelashes are longer and darker now. It makes her bloodshot eyes look bigger and cuter. She's a mess. I can see that she is a mess, not only from her external appearance but from the way she's speaking to me too. A beautiful mess who needs to be comforted.

She tries to get away by stepping to the right but I cover her small cold hands with my warm ones. That catches her off guard I know it because I hear her gasp.
"I can't let you leave. You need rest" I calmly remind her.

"You don't decide for me" she answers back disconnecting our hands. And turn her gaze away from me.

"Why do you want to leave so much from here?" I'm so happy to live with her. Isn't she pleased to be with me? To have some company?

"You know why" We have discussed again that she wants to learn how to leave completely alone. But I don't get why she needs it that much. She can do whatever she wants in my house. She can act like it's her place.

"Don't you like being here?" I sound like a crying baby but I don't understand what I do wrong with her. I give her freedom and independence. What else does she need? I don't bother her and she barely talks to me.

Her mouth opens and closes. Then she reopens it. "It's not that. You're too good to me. I will always be thankful to you but-" This is the second time I see something different in her eyes in one day. Now it's pity. I cut her off because she will try to explain that she doesn't want to live with me anymore in a nice way. I know it. I'm not having it. I can't take this emotion.

"Then give me a reason why you wish to get out of here with such a rush" why does she want to forget everything and start from zero? That was the why I asked her minutes ago. I just find the right words to say it to her.

She walks backward and sits on the bed sighing. "I don't like speaking for myself. As you know I have some problems with my family. They don't support me as much as I would like them to"

"Then stay here. Away from them" if she rejects my offer maybe I will try the romantic scene in which I will have to bend on my knees and beg for her to stay with me.

For a minute straight she glares into my eyes until she decides if she will leave or stay with me. "I can't say no to you" she smiles and I have already forgotten what we were talking about. Does that mean that she will do me the favor and not fight me for the accommodation?
"I will stay with you" she shrugs her shoulders like it's nothing. It's just a sentence but it made me so happy.

"Well if this isn't a surprise" I move toward her and attempt to hold her hands, to show her how glad I am she chose not to abandon this house, once more but she doesn't let me.

"Only for a while" she adds lacing her fingers together refusing to let our fingers attach. "I will nonetheless continue looking for apartments but I will unpack my things because it's tiring to have them crumpled on the suitcase" she turns her head to me and I see a small grin form on her lips.