Battle scars

•Used to know•

I got up in the morning and looked at the clock. 8:06. Mark had his arms tightly around my waist. His face was buried in my side. My long sleeve shirt covered my bruises and scars. I wore sweatpants, and my hair in a messy bun. I carefully got up. I didn't want to wake Mark. I went to the dresser and got some one direction socks and slipped them on. Just so I don't make noise on the wood floor in the living room.

I shut the door just in case something gets loud.

I went into the kitchen and got into the cabinet for some pop tarts. I then put them in the toaster, and went to the couch. I grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels. Drake and Josh was on.

I may be 20 years old but I love drake and josh, still. My pop tarts popped out of the toaster, alerting me that they were done. I jumped at the sound and got up to get them. I put them on a plate and went back to the couch to watch my show.

I kept the tv volume on low. A few minutes after i finished my pop tarts, My phone buzzed. It's a text, from Skyla.

Skyla: "Hey. What happened after you got home last night?"

I determined whether i should tell her. I didn't want to lie to my best friend.

Me: uhh. Well nothing really happened. He yelled at me then I went to bed.

Skyla: oh. Okay. What did he say?

Me: he asked where I was and yelled at me for leaving.

Skyla: okay. He didn't hit you did he?

Me: no

Skyla: okay good. Well I'm going to work. Love ya girl. Stay safe. I'm here if you need anything.

Me: okay. Love ya. Thanks.

At that I got up and put my plate in the sink. I heard the bathroom door shut. Mark was up. I went to the couch again and continued with the TV. Mark came around the corner.

"Hey beautiful" he said as he went I tot he kitchen.

"Good morning." I said.

"Come here." He said. I saw him peek around the corner to look into the living room. He had a huge smile on his face.

I got up and went I tot he kitchen where he had called for me. But I didn't see him anywhere. All of a sudden I felt a hand grab around my waist, very tightly. I screamed, a very girly scream. My red were shut. Then I felt lips graze against mine. He kissed me, passionately. Then swung around to my front he stopped and pulled away. He looked down at me.

"I hadn't kissed you in a while." He said.

"No. but that's was worth waiting for, mark." I said. Then I chuckled. This was the Mark i used to know. Sweet, charming, nice, and gentle.

He then went to the freezer and got out sausage. He got a skillet and everything needed. He turned the stove on and leaned against the counter, as he waited. He back was facing me. I walked up to him and hugged him from behind. The room was silent. I felt his hands grab mine, which were around his waist and tucking his stomach. He broke the silence after a minute.

"Are you really afraid of me, Jules?" He says in a shaky voice.

I let go of him a backed up a little. Was he going to snap again? "Y- well sometimes. Yeah.." I said.

"Why?" He asked. He turned to me. His eyes were welling up with tears. His face became red and somber.

"Because. Of the things you've done in the last year, mark. I have been fearing for my life lately." I said. I felt my eyes do the same as his. I sobbed, and looked down at the floor.

"Jules. I-" he stopped. I looked up at his face. " I don't want you to be afraid. I don't want you to live this way. I know what I'm doing. I know that I'm hurting you. I jus-" he looked down and shook his head. " I just can't control myself when I get angry. I don't know what's happening to me."

He raised a hand to place it on my face. I flinched. I thought he was going to hit me. "It's okay, Jules. It's okay. I'm trying to do better, baby I am." He then pulled me into a passionate hug. I buried my face into his shirt, which was wet with tears. I sobbed again. I took in his scent as he sobbed along with me. "Jules?" He said finally.

"Yeah, mark?" I said as I lifted my head off his chest. Our eyes met. I stared into them.

"You do know that I love you with all my heart and soul, right? You're the one and only girl for me. You're perfect." He said in a calm voice.

I just stared into his eyes. I didn't know what to say. I nodded. I felt tears well up in my eyes again. I buried my face into his chest again. I began to sob.

"I do, Jules. I do love you. I couldn't ask for someone better." He said.

"I-I love you too, Mark. I love you so much. I just-" I let go of his waist and stepped back. "I- I don't always know that you love me back. When you shout, curse at me, hit me, conceal me, i don't feel that love." I said. My head drooped to face the floor. i shut my eyes, tight as the tears fell from my eyes. I felt his hand on my chin to tilt my head up to see his face. His eyes were wet with tears, as well as my own. "I love you." I said.

At that he kissed me. His lips were soft. Like cotton candy on my face. He leaned away after a long 10 seconds. He looked me in the eyes. "I will always love you, Jules. Forever and always."

This is the Mark that i knew. The Mark that i fell in love with. The Mark I used to know.