Stay With Me

Chapter - 29

[ 1 month later]

Now I am permitted to use my mom's phone again. To attend my classes only. I am not permitted to go outside and attend offline classes yet. Besides, I have some news. Finally all the educational institutions are opening after 19 months of lockdown. I feel happy. 3 weeks more to go for my school opening. The wounds in my body have gone. There’s no pain in my body anymore but there's a lot of pain in my heart. I still can't take all the torture my parents have done to me.
Whatever. I need to talk to Jeremy once. Mom doesn't keep me in her eyes so I see a chance to contact Jeremy again.
And I did it.
I opened a new Instagram account and followed him. Then I messaged him immediately. It's a good feeling. But he doesn’t reply immediately. I became sad. 

[ After an hour]

I opened IG again just to see if there's any message from Jeremy or not. And yeah, he texted back. I started to read.
Jeremy : Hey, how are you? Are you okay? Is everything alright? I am so afraid. I miss you a lot babe. Please answer.

I was happy to see his concern. I replied to him.
Me : Yeah, I am okay. How are you?
He replies just at the moment.
Jeremy : No, Bella. You aren’t okay. Your father has beaten you right? Please tell me everything. What happened that night?
Me : Calm down, Jeremy. I will tell you everything when we meet.
Jeremy : How?
Me : I don’t know. I have to manage.
Jeremy : Tell me everything now please. Where have you been for a whole month? Do you know how much I suffered thinking about you? Bella, please tell me everything. 
Me : Calm down.
Jeremy : No, I will not. My partner wasn't in a good condition. She isn't in either. How can I stay calm?

Wait? What? He calls me his partner. 
Me : Your partner? 
Jeremy : Yes, you are. Have you forgotten about our kiss? Or have you forgotten me?
Me : No no. I remember. How can I forget you? I love you.
Jeremy : Bella, I know you love me so much. So please, tell me everything if you love me.

He is pressuring me. So I told him everything that had happened that night.
He stays silent hearing all the incidents. 
Me : I didn’t want to tell you now. I knew you would be upset. 
Jeremy : Bella.
Me : Yes. 
Jeremy : Do you still love me?
Me : Of course I do. Why are you asking me?
Jeremy : Because you have gone through a lot of pain and I am responsible for this. Will you still love me, Bella? Don't you have any anger on me?
Me : You are not responsible for anything. Besides, I apologise to you. My dad used bad language to you. Jeremy, just imagine, I am with you holding your hands and I am telling you, " I will never let you go, my love. No matter what happens, I will still keep loving you." Just imagine. Please.
Jeremy : I am sorry, Bella. 
Me : Jeremy, it's nothing. My dad beats me often. I have suffered this from childhood. Don't worry about it. It's true, I felt a lot of pain but good times really come after bad times.
Jeremy : Can you meet me, please?
Me : Not possible now. When my school opens, I will meet you for sure.
Jeremy : When will your school open?
Me : After 3 weeks.
Jeremy : Waiting, Bella. Please meet me.

I don’t know why he wants to meet me. Maybe he is feeling very sad and he wants a tight hug from me or maybe he will advise me to stay away from him. I have no idea.