I Can't Make You Love Me

Chapter 1.

Joseph immediately took my bags and let me inside, leading me to the spare bedroom. He set my bags down on the floor as I sat on the bed. Joseph sat down beside me, "so why all of a sudden, do you need a place to stay?" I didn't want to tell him what happened, so I tried to play it off, "I just wanted to spend some time with you. And I couldn't wait any longer." I put my hair up in a ponytail and walked over to my bag to put on something more comfortable.

"Mo," I heard Joseph say in a low voice. "Yes, J" "What happened to your neck?" SHIT! He noticed the bruises, most are from tonight, but the older ones are not only on my neck. They are all over my legs, arms, stomach, and back. "Oh these" I say pointing to my neck, "I burnt myself with a curling iron. I know it looks bad, but that's the price I have to pay for wanting to be pretty," I lied to him. "Bullshit" I heard him say under his own breath. "I know you are lying, Mo. Those are from him aren't they? Did he do this to you?" he said walking over to me to get a closer look. "No, Joseph. He didn't." I said trying to get around him and back into the bed.

"Joseph," I he stopped me from moving away and I turned to see his eyes becoming watery. "Mo, I know you're lying to me. Please tell me what happened." He said practically begging and on the verge of tears.

Fuck, I need to tell him. I can't lie anymore, I've done that enough for the past 10 months. "Joseph, I..." I start to say, but he grabs my hand and pulls me onto the bed. "Yes...he did..um..make the marks on my neck," I finally said.

I saw a tear go down Joseph's cheek and he pulled me into his lap and hugged me like he would never let go. "How long," he choked out through the tears after a few moments of silence. "For about 7 months." I admitted, "I didn't think that he was all that bad at first, but he changed and ended up taking it out on me." "Are there any more?" I nodded into his chest. "where?" he asked. "Joseph. I-" I started to protest again, but he cuts me off, "Mo, where else did he hurt you?" "Joseph, let me put it this way. If you name a body part, there is a bruise there. Arms, legs, back and stomach. You name it, they're there." I tell him and he pulls me in closer if that was even possible. I started tearing up when I hear him say, "If you ever see him again, find me and I'll take care of him. Okay?" "Of course" I say back. "You should gets some sleep, I probably won't be here when you wake up, so you can sleep as long as you want and we'll go out to eat for dinner." Joseph says. "Thats sounds perfect." I say getting off of him and he stands up and gives me another hug. "Don't beat the shit out of him, okay. You have so much more dignity than that. Just let me deal with him" I try to convince Joseph. "No, I will help you get your stuff at his house in a few days, but you are staying here with me, and there is no way in hell that you are dealing with this alone. Do you hear me?" "Yes, but that doesn't mean I agree with you." I told him quickly. "I don't care if you agree with me or not. You are staying here with me." He said finally letting me go of me. "mhmm. I'm going to sleep now." I said turning towards the bed. "Wait, do you want to sleep in my room with me?" He quickly said and I could tell he was shocked that he said it too. "Sure." I said giggling and he grabbed my hand and we walked to his room.

I crawled into Joseph's bed and he followed. Joseph gently pulled me into his chest so we could cuddle like old times. He rubbed my back as my fingers played with his hair. A few minutes of silence, Joseph fell asleep and so did I directly after him.