You stood in the middle of your dimly lit kitchen, the silence after the fight ringing louder than any scream. Your cheek stung where his hand had connected, and your mind raced with thoughts you couldn't quite hold onto. This wasn't the first time he'd hurt you, but tonight was different. Tonight, the clarity you'd been trying to avoid hit you like a truck: You can't stay here anymore.
Your eyes darted around the room, landing on the mess of shattered glass and the overturned chair. It wasn't just the physical evidence of his anger that made your stomach turn—it was the suffocating realization that you'd been living like this for too long. You grabbed your keys, slipped on your sneakers, and left without a second glance.
Driving aimlessly, your hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly your knuckles turned white. Tears blurred your vision, but you didn't care. You just needed to get away. You didn't even know where you were going until you found yourself parked outside a familiar apartment complex.
Nicholas.
The thought of him brought a fresh wave of tears. He was always the one you felt safe with, even though your connection had always been platonic. You hadn't told him the details of your marriage, but he wasn't blind—he'd seen the way you'd withdraw, the way your smile never quite reached your eyes. And now, standing outside his door, you didn't care how you looked. Messy hair, tear-streaked face, hoodie, and leggings—you were too broken to care about appearances. You just needed him.
Knocking on his door felt surreal, as if your body had moved on autopilot. The door opened after a few moments, and there he stood: white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, his hair slightly mussed like he'd been lounging. His warm, brown eyes widened when he saw you, taking in your disheveled state and tear-streaked face.
Before he could say a word, you threw your arms around his neck and broke down.
He froze for a second, shocked, before his arms came up to hold you tightly. "Hey... hey, it's okay," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "What happened?"
You couldn't answer right away, your sobs making it hard to speak. He didn't rush you. He just stood there, one hand gently rubbing your back as you cried into his chest. His shirt grew damp from your tears, but he didn't seem to care.
Finally, you pulled back, wiping at your face with shaky hands. "I... I had to leave. I couldn't stay there anymore."
His brows furrowed, concern etched into every line of his face. "Stay where? What happened, Y/N?"
The dam broke again, and you began to tell him everything. The fights, the control, the bruises hidden under long sleeves. You told him about the names your husband called you, the times he'd grabbed you too hard, and tonight—the slap that finally pushed you over the edge.
As you spoke, Nicholas's expression shifted from concern to barely contained anger. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. But he didn't interrupt. He let you pour it all out, nodding when you hesitated and quietly urging you to continue when your voice faltered.
When you finished, the silence in the room felt heavy. You were too drained to say more, your shoulders slumping as you avoided his gaze.
Nicholas stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby. Not anymore."
The tenderness in his tone broke you all over again. You shook your head, tears welling up once more. "I don't even know how I let it get this bad," you whispered. "I should've left a long time ago."
"Don't do that," he said, his voice soft but steady. "Don't blame yourself for what he did to you. You trusted him, and he took advantage of that. None of this is your fault."
His words were like a balm to your raw nerves, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you felt like you could breathe.
Nicholas gently took your hand, guiding you to the couch. He sat down beside you, close but not too close, giving you the space you needed. "Do you want some water or anything?" he asked, his voice laced with care.
You shook your head. "Just... just stay here with me."
"I'm not going anywhere," he promised.
You leaned your head back against the couch, exhaustion washing over you. Nicholas sat quietly beside you, his presence grounding. After a few minutes, he spoke again.
"You're staying here tonight. No arguments."
You opened your mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped you. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a fact.
"Okay," you said softly.
He nodded, satisfied. "I'll grab you some blankets and pillows. You can take my bed if you want—I'll crash out here."
"No, I'll take the couch," you insisted, not wanting to impose any more than you already had.
Nicholas shook his head. "Not a chance. You've been through enough. Let me take care of you, okay?"
The sincerity in his voice made your chest tighten. You nodded, too tired to argue further.
He stood and disappeared into the bedroom, returning a moment later with a blanket and pillow. He set them down on the couch before crouching in front of you.
"You're safe here," he said, his eyes locked on yours. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
The intensity in his gaze was almost overwhelming, but it also made you feel something you hadn't felt in a long time: safe.
"Thank you," you whispered.
He gave you a small, reassuring smile. "Get some rest. We'll figure everything out tomorrow."
You nodded, and as he helped you settle on the couch, you couldn't help but wonder how you'd gotten so lucky to have someone like him in your life.
As you drifted off to sleep, you felt a sense of peace that had been absent for far too long. For the first time in what felt like forever, you believed his words.
Nothin's gonna hurt you, baby.
And you knew he meant it.
A/N: This is kinda inspired by It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us books. I really like how I wrote this and I might do a part 2. Let me know if you would like that.
Remember:
- drink water
- move ur body
- Jesus loves u and so do i
