We meet at Dawn

Chapter six - Cam

Dawn had made my Christmas to the best holiday ever. And I loved the gifts she gave me, when we got to my room I placed the framed photo of us from prom on my nightstand. I could tell that Dawn had something on her mind, but knowing Dawn I didn't want to push it any further.
I think I'm going to tell her about my feelings tonight, because keeping them inside is so hard. Sure, I show her my affection and sweet things. But I never wanted to tell someone that I love them more than now.

While Dawn was in the bathroom I whispered and prepared my little speech. I was usually a good speaker, but my heart was racing out of my
chest. I could feel the sweat on my temple start to build up. Then Dawn came back from the bathroom, "wow Cam, you look like you've seen a ghost" she said and giggled a little. I tried to laugh a little, but my voice failed me. She took a seat in the bed while I was walking around in circles, still trying to find my words.

"Jesus Cam, relax. Your making me nervous, and I don't even believe in ghosts." She said and looked at me with her big black eyes. I walked over to her and sat besides her, this was it. The moment of truth. "I need to tell you something
important" I said, and Dawns eyes was sharper than a knife, I could see her body tense up. But I laid my hand on her leg and smiled nervously, "you know that I said that someone has my heart, back in Alaska?" I said, but she was quiet as a
mouse only giving me a small nod. "Well even if you didn't know this, I gave my heart to you the day I first saw you. I love you Dawn, so please be gentle with it" I reached down my pocket and pulled out a little box. She took the box and slowly opened it, like she was scared of what she'd find in it. Inside there were a silver necklace with a heart on it.

"I love you Dawn" was all I said as she held the necklace in her hands. She looked at me, and I was freaking out. It was too quiet, I should have known she didn't like me like this. But before I could drown myself in my shame, she kissed me and smiled like she had gotten the moon. "I love you too Alaska" she said, and my heart literally jumped out of my chest. I grabbed her face and gave her the world's biggest kiss, I felt complete. I was so afraid that she didn't love me back,
so hearing her say it was the biggest relief I've evert felt. I just sat in bed and held her face, looking in too her deep brown eyes, allowing myself to drown in them. I kissed her a hundred times over and just puked the word "I love you" over and over.

"Hey Cam?" She said, looking at me with love and warmth in her eyes, "yes my love?" I said and kissed her forehead. "There's something I need to tell you as well, "she swallowed hard and looked down", "whatever you want to say, you can tell me. I love you Dawn" I said, trying to ease whatever it was she had to say.
"I'm not ready for sex yet" and as she said it my heart sank, she shouldn't feel pressured into anything. If I had to wait a decade for her to be ready, I would. "But not because I don't want to, it's just that uhm... I was raped" she said.

Tears started to stream down her pale face and I felt angry. I wanted to take the world and shred it to pieces, whoever did this to her was going to pay. She didn't cry as she said it, and it made me even more mad. That she had been going through
this all by herself. At some point she took my hand, "Cam, I'm okay. It was months before meeting you. I just need time" she said.

But it didn't ease my mind, and in this moment I realized that's why she had been hurting herself. That some man had taken advantage of her and broken her into a million pieces. But from this
day on, nothing or no one was going to hurt her ever again. Not under my watch.