The Other Side

ISOLATED

TRIGGER WARNING. SELF HARM.
The water trailed down his back as he rested his forehead against the tiles of the shower wall. The only sound were the sighs of Draco as he stayed otherwise silent while he showered and the pattering of the water hitting the floor.

The crystal clear water that was falling from the shower head, mixed with drops of red as it disappeared down the drain.

Thoughts raced through his head, overlapping each-other. He couldn't focus on one thought at that moment. Worries and doubts just flying in from different directions. He gradually became more focused on the pain that was shooting up his arm just like he knew he would. Pain was more bearable than the thoughts that wouldn't leave him alone.

The cuts that were scattered along his arm caused him less harm than the mental slashes throughout his mind.

A while later, Draco was stepping out of the shower with a towel around his waist, he walked towards his dorm room where he was greeted with a dressed up Pansy. She was wearing a black thigh length dress that showed off her slight curves. It had a slit just below her hip that showed off her legs more. She looked absolutely stunning and Draco couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Hey Malfoy, eyes are up here you know?," Pansy snapped her fingers in his face. "And I'm gay"

Draco chuckled, " I'm well aware Pans, don't worry." He turned to his wardrobe to retrieve his clothes for the party that he had no choice but to attend. As he turned to walk to the bathroom to change, Pansy blocked him and snatched the clothes out of his hands that he was using to cover his arm from her because he knew he wouldn't hear the end of it. Even though Pansy had all reason to worry of course but it didn't mean he had like it.

She grabbed his arm and he let her with no fight because he knew it wasn't worth fighting against.

"Draco..," Pansy drawled, "how many times do I have to ask you to please not do this to yourself. " The brunette sighed. Pansy wasn't annoyed or mad but beyond disappointed. He had promised he wouldn't do it again the last time she caught him and he had broken his promise.

"Pans, you know its not that easy. It helps m-" Draco tried to reason with her.

"Helps you!?" She shouts, "how the bloody hell does hurting yourself do any sort of good? Huh?"

"It takes the constant worries out of my head Pansy " he argued back while pointing his hands towards his head, "And that's the only thing I need. Not to seek help from anyone, because no-one can help me anymore." His voice breaking at the end of his sentence.

Pansy sympathised. She really did. But she couldn't stand the thought of what he continuously does to himself. She approached the blonde boy and took his hands between hers.

"You can't seek help right now, I get that, but after all of this is over, you and I are going to get you the support that we both know you deserve. You hear me?" Pansy reassured him.

Draco nodded even though he didn't believe a word that left her mouth would actually happen. He didn't deserve it. He always said told himself  that if anybody deserved support or aid, it wouldn't be him. There were far more important people like his mother or friends. The war was affecting all of them in different ways and they all coped in divergent ways. For Draco, that was physical pain to distract from the psychological distress. He knew nobody would understand. If he would dare to tell someone other than Pansy, he would bet 500 galleons they would look at him like he was Voldemort himself.