Paradise Is Here

Nobody Needs To Know (Nellie Lovett III)

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Nellie's POV

"Sit, sit!" I quickly told Jolene as I prepared a small bucket filled with cold water and took a towel "What has happened to you, Jolene?" I queried while trying to clean the side of her face, though she didn't say anything and just stared on the floor "Jolene, please tell me what happened?" I was really concerned for this girl, she's entirely vulnerable to this world.

"Tilly...s-she had died" a single tear slipped from her eyes and I gently wiped it away with my thumb.

"Who did it?" Jolene shook her head "Please, my darling." I pleaded

"No, I don't want to be a burden to you." this girl, even in a moment of need. She still puts other people first than her own.

I carefully cupped her cheeks and made her look at me "You're not a burden to me or to anyone, Jolene. I promise that I will protect you and take care of you if you just tell me who did this to you" Jolene hesitated at first, but eventually told me the truth.

"I-It was my father..." I was shocked to hear that her own father had done this to her. I knew her father had drinking problems, but I thought he was getting better. I guess I was wrong. "This wasn't the first time he had done something like this to me."

"This isn't the first time he'd hurt you?"

"No...There were multiple occasions where he'd throw a bottle of alcohol at me and yell at me, threaten to sell me to a brothel...Once he had his friend over and...he just touched me all over and my father didn't give a damn about me"

"Did he..." the woman shook her head and I was able to breathe a little bit more easily. I pulled her into another embrace and Jolene melted into my arms. "You don't have to go back if you don't want to. You can stay here as long as you like, okay?"

"Thank you..." she said quietly

"Now, why don't you get some rest, hm? You can sleep on my bed" I offered and I led her to my bedroom "Here, wear this so you'd be more comfortable" I handed her a nightgown that I took from my drawer, then slowly she began taking off her corset.

"Um, can you turn around?" I snapped when I saw her slightly flushed cheeks, I didn't even realise that I was staring at her.

"Oh, sorry!" Upon turning around, I could hear her shuffling her clothes and I couldn't help, but to sneak a peek behind me. Jolene stood there nearly naked in front of my eyes, she looked absolutely stunning. Her skin seemed to be smooth as the finest silk, I'm surprised how she doesn't have any scars given the fact how her father abuses her.

She carefully remove the hairpin for her head and when Jolene was almost facing me, I immediately moved my head away so that she wouldn't catch me looking at her "Alright, I'm done." Something about her wearing one of my clothes just made me feel certain things.

Jolene placed her clothes on a chair, so she'd wear it again tomorrow, but I think I'll just let her borrow my clothes because her dress looks a little dirty "Nellie, where are you going to sleep?" she asked

"I'll just sleep on this chair" I pointed to the chair that was right beside the bed. Jolene looked and scrunched her nose.

"That doesn't look too comfortable" she stated and I chuckled, she was right though. Sitting long on that chair does start to become uncomfortable.

"Well, I don't want you taking the chair, it'll then be rude"

"Why not sleep next to me? It is your bed and it's big enough for the both of us"

"I-..." I contemplated for a moment, wondering if it'll be a good idea to sleep next to her, but I figured that nothing bad was going to happen anyway so I gave in "If it's alright with you, then okay"