Beautifully Broken

Chapter 16

Anaya POV:

Blank...

My mind was blank as I continued staring at the folder in my hand trying to make sense of what I had seen. A part of me still thought that this some sort of a joke and Caden would at any moment start laughing at my stunned face and call his bluff but unfortunately, as I looked up curiously, my eyes meeting a pair of dark brown eyes; I knew that none of this was a joke.

Tears clouded my vision again as the picture of Caden bruised to the point where he was unrecognizable flashed in my head. The folder was still open, yet I couldn't bring myself to look back at the pictures that lay open in my hands. Looking up, I was met with Caden's unmoving form. He hadn't moved an inch. He had me pinned under dark eyes studying me carefully; gauging my reaction. His hands were clenched at his side to the point where veins were starting to become visible from squeezing so tight.

I opened my mouth to ask the questions running in my head.

What happened?

Who did this?

Are you okay?

So many questions...

Yet I seemed to have lost my voice. Taking in a deep breath, I willed myself to look back at the folder in my hand as I carefully studied the first picture. It wasn't a very clear photo but anyone could tell easily that it was Caden in the photo. The picture was taken in the prison cell judging by the background. It was a small, dark, cramped up cell. There was a small single bed pushed up against the wall and Caden was sitting on the very edge of the very bed. There was blood all over his face, his hair was shorter compared to how it is now. I couldn't even make out where he was injured because of all the blood on his face. Caden was shirtless, with only a pair of grey sweatpants on. Juvenile correctional center uniform...

Caden's midriff was also covered in blood but it wasn't as damaged and bloodied as his face. He wasn't looking at the camera, instead he was looking ahead. His eyes were distant and hollow. It lacked any form of spark, like he wasn't really there by the way his eyes were directed right ahead... Overall, Caden looked lost.

My chest ached looking at him like that.

What had happened to him while in prison?

And who took this picture and why?

So many questions ran through my head...

Looking ahead, my teary gaze met Caden's from where he stood perfectly still. He had his hands shoved inside his jean pocket, as he stood in front of me. I wanted to ask him about the folder, but at the same time a part of me didn't want to know the answer. I already knew that I wasn't going to be getting the image of a bloody and bruised Caden out of my head anytime soon. It was forever embedded in my brain.

I had a lot of questions but I was scared of finding out the answer to those questions. I need to sit down, I thought.

Not having the stomach to continue looking at the photos, I closed the folder slowly and walked towards the study table that was pushed up against the wall by the balcony window. Placing the folder on top, I sat down on Caden's study chair. Running my hands through my hair, I tried to come to terms with whatever I had just seen. From the corner of my eye, I saw Caden walking towards where I was sitting.

Passing by the chair I was sitting on, Caden leaned against his desk but I was too stunned to acknowledge him. The sudden jerking of the chair had me snapping out of my trance as Caden turned the chair I was sitting on so that I was facing him. Still not satisfied, he pulled the chair closer towards himself, my bare legs brushing against his jean clad ones from where he stood in front of me.