Blood Clot

Secrets are never best kept to yourself

Levi's POV

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I don't really know what to say. At first I thought that I had hurt Ash when I pulled her arm. Then I thought she had hurt it when she fell back in London Liverpool Street Station. But from the looks of things it was neither of those.

I slowly lift up her cardigan sleeve only to reveal many cuts covering her arms. Some small but others look deep and painful. I don't know what to think.

I am lost for words really. I have a beautiful girl standing centimetres away from me, crying with her arm covered in cuts (whether they are self inflicted or not).

I think back to when I was little, and in kindergarten: whenever I fell over or grazed my knee, my mother would always kiss it better, saying that love is the best medicine.

So I do the same sort of thing. I gently kiss her arm. Then I pull her close to me and tell her everything is okay. We probably look like a right pair of idiots, standing in possibly the busiest place in central London, hugging each other. But to be honest, I couldn't care less. I can feel her tears seep through my thin t- shirt I am wearing. I just keep my arms tight around her, and lean my head on hers.

Eventually I tilt her head to look up at me.

"Let's go and get something to drink and eat, then you have to tell me everything." I say to her.

She nods at me, then I roll back down her sleeve at kiss the top of her head, before taking her hand and I look around for somewhere to eat.

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Ashley's POV

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"I have never told anyone anything. I am always the rock for my best friend when she has her problems, so I feel like I would be putting a lot of unexpected pressure on her if I tell her."

Levi reaches across the picnic bench and rests his hands over mine.

"Promise you won't judge me?"

His hands tighten around mine.

"I will never judge you Ash. And I will not tell anyone else anything you tell me. I promise."

His eyes are looking straight at me. We keep eye contact for a couple of seconds before I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I can't believe I am telling him this

"It started a couple of months ago. I always get called names in school, and I always have arguments with my parents. I hate being a nobody that everyone treats like shit. So, I kinda... well... you know..."

His eyes are still looking straight at mine. "So you self harm."

I bow my head down. Then a small whisper escapes from my lips before I burst out crying again. "yes."

I wipe my tears again and try to steady my voice.

"It is like I am punishing myself for being me. Perhaps it is my fault that I only have one friend. and that my parents are constantly having a go at me. I punish myself, then get upset, then punish myself again for getting upset. It is like a never ending cycle that I can't get out of."

He looks straight at me again.

"I'm glad you told me. It is hard to trust people, I know. But next time you feel like this, you tell me straight away. I don't care if it is early in the morning, midafternoon or the middle of the night, call me and we can talk. Please? I want to help you."