Scars From The Past

nothing breaks like a heart

"This world can hurt you
It cuts you deep and leaves a scar
Things fall apart, but nothing breaks like a heart
And nothing breaks like a heart"

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart - Miley Cyrus

"Good afternoon, Miss Jones. Please, take a seat."

I force a smile as I shake the man's hand, then obediently sit down. I take a short glance around the room. Three grey walls, a window others can watch me from on the other side, hidden, a table and two chairs. Classy.

"How are you, Miss Jones?" The psychologist asks, seated opposite me in this interrogation room. When I remain silent, he sighs.

"All this will be over much faster if you cooperate." He says, eyes searching mine for a sign.

"Fine." I sigh after a moment, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Just answer the following questions with yes or no." He orders, then grabs a paper, the questions printed out on them.

"Are you Rhine Jones?"

"Yes."

"And you are 20 years old?"

"Yes."

"Were you kidnapped by Raoul Silva a few months ago?"

"Yes."

"He took you against your free will?"

"Yes."

"And did he hurt you anytime during the time you were with him?"

"No."

"Did he take advantage of you?"

Images flash through my mind. His lips on mine, his hands on my hips, naked...

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He pauses for a moment, reading through the following questions.

"Were you really taken against your will?"

"Yes." What was he insinuating?

"And you did not aid him in his escape whatsoever?"

"Of course not." I say stiffly.

"Yes or no will suffice. Do you know why he left you in Dover?"

Auwtch. My heart clenches at it, but I keep my expression void of emotion.

"No. I assume he didn't need me anymore."

No, he didn't. He just got tired of using you and left. How kind of him.

"That will be all for now. Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Jones." The man says, standing up. I follow his movement, but stop to ask one thing.

"Am I allowed to start working at MI6 again?"

"Not yet. There still are some tests to run, but until M gives the green light for us to begin, you have to take your time. You've been through a lot."

I sigh at that. I didn't need more time to think, all by myself, in my tiny room. I wanted to work!

"Okay, thanks." I mutter before making my way out of the room. As I do so, James walks out of a door, as does M. I assume they were watching me.

"Hey, James. M." I greet politely, nodding at the latter. He nods back, and James move to stand by my side.

"I'll take you home." I nod, thankful for that, and we begin to walk, making our way through and out of MI6.

"I'm sorry. I know you want to start working again." James says after a while, blue eyes looking at me.

"It's fine, it's not like you can help it." I answer with a shrug.

"Still, I hate seeing you like this. I'm here for you, you know that, right?" James asks, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to pull me closer. I stop for a moment, finding comfort in being hugged by him. He'd said that multiple times in the month that had passed since he'd found me in Dover. I never told him about what actually happened, the few stuff I still had of him hidden far away in my closet, where no one would look for them, including the note, the book he gave me, and some of his clothes that had still been in the house. I only got them out of there if I felt like I was falling apart, the faint scent of him the only thing left to convince me that it had been real, that all of it actually happened.

Raoul had disappeared of off the earth. No one could find him, there was not a single sign that even indicated he might be alive and I worried. Even though he had left me, without a word except for a tiny apology written on a note, I still worried. I hoped that, even though he hadn't wanted me, even though it was all just a game, that he was safe, and that he was happy. Some nights, I allowed myself to think he was back with me, on the worst nights, but the mornings were even worse after that, so I tried not to think of him too much. It still felt like he was in my life constantly. The most random things were enough to send me down memory lane.

And then there was James. James, who made sure I didn't just lock myself up in my apartment. James, who made sure to visit, to keep my mind busy, to make sure I didn't feel so lonely anymore. He wiped away my tears, didn't pry for answers, he just was there for me, just like he always had been. James didn't ask, but it felt like he knew.

"Thank you." I whisper after a while, pulling back only to have him wipe away some stray tears that I didn't even realize had fallen.

"Let's get you home."