The Soulless Souls

3³

Note for those who are not new to this story: I changed Edith's age from 19 to 21. (I started this story when I was around 15/16 so I thought 19 was very old but now I realized that it's not.)

I tried to step away but his hands stopped me.

"No, why would I do that?" I tried to sound offended but deep down, I was just scared. He is going to find out.

"Edith, please. I won't be angry at you but just... Let me see. I need to make sure."

Aryan was desperate. I heard it in his voice.

I wasn't sure if I just gave up or if a small part of me wanted to show him the truth, finally, after weeks of lying to him, but with a shaky breath I lowered my pyjama pants.

My shirt was long enough to cover half of my thighs.

I watched carefully as Ari inspected the scars with an unreadable expression.

One hand glided down to my thigh and he touched them with his fingertips, as softly as a feather. He took his time, taking a close look at each one of them.

"I- I'm so-sorry", I stammered but he didn't respond.

For a moment I thought he didn't hear me.

But suddenly, I saw his eyes glittering and my heart skipped a beat. Before I could make sure if he was really crying, he leaned his forehead against my stomach.

"Did you at least treat them?", he asked with a throaty voice. He sounded hollow and absolutely devastated.

My heart pummeled down to the floor, shattering. Why am I so awful?

"N-No, sorry. I don't know how."

He took a deep breath but didn't say anything.

"Ari, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I- I don't -"

"Did you do this because of me? Because I triggered you?" Ari looked at me, his eyes were moist from his tears but he didn't cry.

I shook my head, my voice trembling. "N-No, I -"

"Edith, don't lie to me. Please."

I tried to step back again but he didn't let me. "Only once", I admitted with a small voice. "B-but I regret it, really. And I'm really sorry for lying to you."

Ari stood up and pushed me on the bed. "Wait here for a moment."

He went out of the room and came back with a first aid kit I didn't know we had. He kneeled down in front of me and put his hands on my knees.

"I will treat your scars", he told me when he saw my perplexed expression.

I tried to push his hands away, guilt eating me up from inside out, but he didn't budge. "You- you don't have to. I mean, they are not bleeding anymore. I'm fine."

And I don't deserve your care.

"You're not fine, Edith. Stop saying it all the time." He looked at me, desperately, and I removed my hands from his.

Silently, I watched him as he took a small tin from the kit and applied white ointment around my scars.

"This will help them to heal faster", he explained. "And hopefully, it will prevent infection. What- what did you use to do this?"

I didn't answer immediately.

"Edith?"

I avoided his eyes. "The scissor in the bathroom."

He lowered his head on my knee, not facing me. "Oh, Edith."

"I'm sorry", I whispered.

"Me too. For not noticing for so long. But you know what I said what will happen when I find more scars. You will go to therapy."