More Than Enough

Chapter 19

Nico

I felt bad that Cami wasn't feeling good so I decided to stop by her house after school to check on her. I even picked up some soup I know she likes from the diner down the street.

I knocked on the door and Cami's mom answered.

"Hi Mrs. Hughes. I came to see Cami if that's ok."

She let me in and directed me to Cami's room. I knocked and only entered when her soft voice told me I could.

"Hey," I said. Cami looked surprised to see me, but then again I hadn't texted or anything. "I brought you some soup."

"Thanks," Cami said from where she was curled up in her bed. I put the soup on her bedside table and she sat up to eat it.

When she took a bite though, I noticed a bandage on her arm. It hadn't been there yesterday.

"What happened?" I asked and Cami looked at her arm as if she were seeing it for the first time too.

"Oh, nothing," she said and hid her arm behind her.

"Cami."

She got fidgety and nervous and I was confused. What happened just now?

"Really, it's nothing."

Now she sounded straight up panicked and I was getting worried.

"Did someone do that to you?" I asked. I'd kill them.

"No," she said and tears pooled in her eyes.

"Cami, you're worrying me. What's wrong?"

She shook her head and the tears began to fall. I climbed into her bed and pulled her into my lap so I could hold her close.

"I can't," she choked out.

"You can tell me anything. You know you can."

I knew Cami had trouble sharing her feelings, but I needed her to know she could trust me. And I was getting worried.

"Please, Cami," I begged and after a moment she took a shaky breath and reached for the bandage.

Slowly, she took off the bandage and let me see her arm. That was marred with scars. I shouldn't have pushed this. This was her story to tell and I had no right pushing her like that.

"I'm sorry Cami, I shouldn't have pushed. But I want to help you if you'll let me."

Cami nodded and snuggled into me.

"It started after Bailey died," she mumbled.

"You don't have to."

"I do," she said and continued. "My family and I grew apart and I thought it was just the grief, but it wasn't. I got used to being invisible, but after a while it just hurt too much and I needed something to stop the pain."

Cami was sobbing and I held her tightly as she shared her story. My heart was breaking for her and I wanted her to know she was safe with me.

"I had stopped. I had quit for almost two years, but a few months ago things got to be too much again and I went back to it until we started dating and you took away my pain. But last night I overheard my parents talking about how Bailey should be here and I couldn't stop myself. I needed it. I'm weak."

Cami cried into my chest and I rubbed her back.

"I'm so sorry Cami. I hate that you are feeling like this."

"I deserve it."

"No you don't."

"I destroyed my family. I deserve all the pain in the world."

"Oh Cami."

My heart split right in two then and there. My poor sweet Cami has been going through this alone for years. I wouldn't let her be alone anymore.

"I want you to call me when you feel like this ok? Day or night, I don't care. I don't want you to be alone."

"It's ok," Cami said, but I shook my head.

"Cami, I love you and I'm not letting you do this alone anymore."

She nodded as more tears spilled onto my shirt. After a while, she stopped crying and I tilted her chin up so I could look at her.

"It's going to get better," I told her. I'd make sure of it. Cami deserved to have the best life in the world and I would make sure she got it. "But you've got to let me help you."

Cami nodded and stood up. She walked out of the room and came back with a little case.

"Can you take this for me?" she asked.

I nodded and took the little case.

"I love you Cami."

"I love you too."

I hugged Cami once more and placed a kiss on her forehead before leaving. Once I was in my car, I opened up the case and tears filled my eyes when I saw the blades. Oh Cami.

I threw the case into the dumpster behind my apartment building and went inside. My heart ached for Cami, but I was glad I knew. Now I could help her.

My phone pinged and I reached over to grab it in case it was Cami. It wasn't.

Dad: I'll be in town for Christmas.

That was it. A single sentence statement. I'm sure this would be a great visit.