Mended

8

Izzy's POV

Elijah's voice sounded distant as he called after me, but I ignored him as I hurtled out of Ethan's apartment and towards the elevators. My heart raced mercilessly against my chest as I clicked the arrows to go down, Ethan's words replaying in my mind.

A lump the size of a baseball became lodged in my throat, and I forced myself to swallow past it. The back of my eyes burned, but I blinked multiple times, refusing to let myself fall apart over something he'd probably said without thinking.

But it had struck me deeper than I'd ever let anyone would know because feeling like I was wanted was something I had always struggled with.

It was an insecurity that I'd realized was rooted deep in my childhood, and even today, at nineteen, I still found it difficult to let myself believe that I wasn't a burden. That I was wanted. That I belonged.

"Izzy." Elijah's voice appeared closer, and I whipped my head around to see him approaching me. I quickly glanced at the elevator screen to see that it was still a few floors away, before I started to turn around and race towards the door to the stairs. "Izzy, goddamnit, stop."

I was almost at the door when a hand wrapped around my elbow and yanked me backwards. I grunted and tried to shove him away, but Elijah managed to grab my other arm too, forcing me to come to a full stop.

"Let go," I gritted out, squirming in his grip. Elijah's hands only tightened around my elbows.

"No," he said calmly. When I realized he wasn't going to let go, I went limp in his hold, all the fight leaving me. He waited a moment to see if I'd try to escape again, before he let go of one of my arms to bring his hand up to my chin. He tilted my face up, but I refused to look at him, afraid that he'd see the water forming in my eyes. "Izzy, look at me."

I shook my head, the burning behind my eyes growing more painful.

"Izzy," Elijah's voice softened.

I kept my eyes on the ground, knowing that if I moved them, I'd start crying. Not necessarily only because I was hurt, but also because I was angry. I was so fucking angry at Ethan.

"Bella," Elijah's said, his voice quiet but firm. He nudged my chin again, trying to get me to look at him. "He didn't mean that. You know he didn't."

"But he still said it," I spoke up, my voice hoarse as I finally met his unwavering gaze. "He always does this," I rasped, feeling some wetness start to stream down my cheeks. "He says hurtful things and then later he comes to apologize, saying he never meant it. I'm sick of it, Elijah."

Elijah gently reached up and used his thumb to brush away some tears that had unwillingly escaped. "I know," he assured, his voice soothingly calm. "I'm getting sick of it, too, and I'll talk to him about it, alright? But until then, don't let what he said get to you. You know it's not true, baby. We always want you around."

I said nothing as I stared at him, my mind trying to convince me that he was only saying this because he didn't like seeing me upset. The doubt was relentless in its efforts to tear me down.

Elijah sighed and pulled me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his shirt. "Stop overthinking," he murmured, pressing a lingering kiss to the side of my head as I squeezed him tighter.

Elijah let me hug him for a few more moments before he pulled away, glancing down to search my face. "Now you wanna tell me what that was about?" He asked. "Are you really staying in tonight to rest or are you seeing Julian?"

I groaned and tried pulling away, but Elijah wrapped his arm around my shoulder, keeping me close. "Does it matter?" I sighed. "I'm an adult now, why do you guys need to know everything about my life and what I do?"