Her Secrets

11. Candle

It was just past eleven when Chris and Benjamin finally arrived home.

Mia had fallen asleep on the couch with Asher holding her. After he reassured her that everything would be alright, she let her walls come down and sobbed in his arms until she had finally fallen asleep an hour later.

For the rest of the night, all Asher could do was stare at his little sisters sleeping face and wonder how anyone could want to hurt her. He didn't understand and he never would understand why people hurt others. How they can just ruin people's lives in one second while they go about their lives unable to see what they did wrong. It made him sick to his stomach just knowing the horrific things that guy was capable of.

"Is she okay?" Benjamin asked when he entered the living room.

"No." He answered truthfully.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"No." Asher simply answered. His dark eyes never left his little sister.

"What happened." Chris asked, his jaw clenched. Asher never even saw Chris come inside, then again he couldn't focus on anything really.

"That bastard happened. I don't think I've ever seen Mia in so much pain." Asher replied, his own jaw clenching as he thought of the person who ruined his little sister. "He fucking ruined her. She sobbed in my arms for over an hour, you know that? I want to fucking kill him. She has no sense of safety."

He finally let himself be angry aloud. Asher noticed as Chris and Benjamin exchanged glances but he ignored it because neither of them were talking.

"She doesn't think I notice but she flinches at any noise or sudden touch. I don't even know if she notices it herself. She's out of it." He continued. "I fucking hate him. I hate that he hurt her."

When no one consoled him or showed their own anger he got up off the couch cautious of Mia who was sitting in his lap. Before anyone could think of stopping him, he picked up the unlit candle sitting on the coffee table and threw it at the wall. 

The sound of the shattering glass was loud and Mia was abruptly awoken by the sudden noise. She gasped before sitting up and noticing her brothers were all home. "What was that?" She asked, her heart pounding. She was clearly on edge as she moved closer to the side of the couch.

"It's okay, love. You're safe." Chris said looking at his sister before he glared at Asher's for his sudden outburst.

"What was that?" She repeated, growing irritated. Although she was irritated, everyone in the room could sense she was in fear for her safety.

"Asher threw and broke the candle." Benjamin answered since his brothers refused as they stared at her.

"The candle?" She asked.

"Yes, it was just the candle." He said.

"No.." she said, her eyes flew to the coffee table. The candle was gone.

"Mia, it was just the candle. I promise you that. You're safe." Benjamin tried reassuring her.

"No. You don't understand. Fuck. I fucking hate myself." She whispered as tears threatened to fall.

"What, baby? Whats wrong?" Chris asked, the concern evident on his face.

"That's the only fucking candle with that fucking scent!" She yelled. She ran to the wall where the shattered glass laid on the floor as she began picking up the pieces.

"Mia, stop you're going to cut yourself." Chris said as he grabbed her hands in his own.

"You don't understand." She said as she tried forcing herself out of his strong grip.