Unexpected Love

13. Her Only Hope

Angela spoke - panic evident in her voice. "Baby, what's going on? Talk to me." her voice was steady and reassuring. Lucy hyperventilated - struggling to breathe.

"Lucy, breathe. I'm on my way, okay? You're stronger than you think, and I'm here for you." Those words were like a lifeline, pulling Lucy back from the edge of her despair.

Angela sprang out of bed, racing against time to get to lucy's apartment, she didn't know what happened- she had no idea what she was about to walk into.

The sound of the door unlocking and opening brought a small measure of relief to Lucy, but she couldn't bring herself to move from her crumpled position on the cold tile floor.

She heard Angela's footsteps rushing towards her, and then a gasp. "Oh, Lucy!" Angela's voice was filled with panic as she took in the sight before her. Dropping to her knees beside Lucy, Angela carefully wrapped her arms around her, trying not to press on the injured wrists.

"Baby, what happened? Why didn't you call sooner?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. Lucy's sobs intensified, and she leaned into Angela's embrace, feeling a sense of safety she hadn't known in months.

"I just... I couldn't take it anymore," she managed to choke out. Angela held her tighter.

Angela's touch was tender as she cleaned and bandaged Lucy's wounds, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "Lucy, baby? why did you do this?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucy leaned into her embrace, feeling small and fragile. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Every time I looked at my bed, I saw him... I felt him. I just wanted it to stop. Everything came back at once.. I couldn't cope.."

Angela's grip on her tightened, her own pain reflected in her expression. "It's okay to hurt, Luce," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "But hurting yourself isn't the answer baby. I'm here for you, always, if you ever feel like you want to hurt yourself again you come get me. We'll figure this out together."

Lucy nodded, fresh tears streaming down her face. *I don't want to be broken anymore,* she thought, *but I don't know how to fix myself.* Angela seemed to sense her inner turmoil, and she placed a gentle kiss on Lucy's forehead. "We'll get through this. I promise."

After a few moments of silence, Angela hesitated before broaching the topic that had been on her mind since she found Lucy on the bathroom floor. "Hey, sweetheart," she said, her voice soft and gentle, "what would you think about moving in with me? Being roomates?."

Lucy looked up at her, surprise etching itself onto her tear-streaked face. She had never considered living with Angela before, but now, the thought brought a flicker of hope. Maybe having someone around all the time would help keep the darkness at bay. *Is this what I need? Can I trust myself not to hurt her, too?* Lucy wondered, her thoughts a jumbled mess of fear and gratitude.

But then she saw the sincerity in Angela's eyes and heard the unspoken love behind her words. Swallowing hard, she whispered, "I... I would like that." The relief on Angela's face was palpable, and she pulled Lucy closer, holding her tight. "Thank you," Lucy murmured against her shoulder, feeling a small weight lift from her chest.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Angela gently lifted Lucy off the floor, cradling her in her arms as she moved through the apartment. Lucy wrapped her arms around Angela's neck, clinging to her like a lifeline.

"I'll take care of everything," Angela promised, her tone resolute. She carried Lucy to her bedroom and held her on her hip protectively, before starting to pack her belongings into a suitcase.

Lucy watched her, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. It was strange, letting someone else take control like this- looking after her, but at the same time, it was exactly what she needed.

Angela moved efficiently around the room- lucy laying against her shoulder, picking out clothes and essentials, her movements speaking volumes about her determination to protect her.

"Do you want anything specific?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder. Lucy shook her head, too overwhelmed to speak. Instead, she watched Angela work, grateful for her presence and her strength. *Maybe I can do this,* Lucy thought, snuggling deeper into the blankets and into angelas embrace. *Maybe with Angela by my side, I can learn to live again.*

As Angela closed the suitcase, she turned to Lucy, who was still nestled into her arms like a child seeking comfort. Lucy's eyes were wide and full of admiration as she looked up at her angela.

Angela's beauty, both inside and out, never failed to amaze her. She felt safe in Angela's arms, protected from the world and all its cruelty. "Thank you," Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible. "For everything."

Angela smiled warmly, brushing a loose strand of hair away from Lucy's face. "You don't have to thank me, baby, we've talked about this," she replied, her voice thick with emotion.

"I'm just glad you called me. Now, let's get you settled in at my place. We've got a lot of healing to do huh sweetheart?." Lucy nodded, snuggling deeper into Angela's embrace.

Carefully cradling Lucy in her arms, Angela carried her to the car, her heart aching at the sight of her friend's vulnerability.

Once inside, she buckled Lucy in, ensuring she was comfortable before closing the door. She took a deep breath to steady herself before sliding into the driver's seat.

During the short drive to her apartment, Angela couldn't help but steal glances at Lucy's quiet form. The feelings that had been growing between them were becoming harder to ignore, but she knew better than to push.

Lucy needed time to heal, to rediscover herself without the shadow of her ex looming overhead. As much as Angela wanted to confess her love, she knew it would only complicate matters further.

Instead, she focused on providing comfort, silently promising to be there for Lucy every step of the way.

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