Hush

5

He didn't send me back to that room, instead he let me stay in his room. I sat in the corner farthest from the bed and door, legs pulled uo to my chest. He'd left to go to work an hour ago, saying that it'd be about twelve pm before he got back. Glancing at the digital clock on his night stand that read 4:17. I sighed and carefully stood up.

I felt lost and alone. I didn't want him to be mad at me, afraid of what he might do if I tried anything.

I kept thinking about my family, wondering if they'd do anything being that I'm gone. How long have I even been gone? I feel as if it's been eternity but honestly, it was probably only about two weeks, thinking back to it.

I walk from his room numbly and down to the kitchen, looking in the fridge and just kind of staring. I didn't want anything but if I didn't eat he'd flip out on me and shove it down my throat.

I sigh and close my eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of my nose. I pull out a jar of sliced dill pickles and closed the fridge. I sit at the island and open the jar, eating them one by one. I liked pickles, allot. That and I heard pickle juice helps you lose weight so I've been drinking it since five years ago.

After I decided I'd had enough of the small roundish green delicacies and put the lid on, placing it back in the fridge. I grew bored soon and decided to look around. If I was going to be here for a long time, probably about the rest of my life, I'd might as well.

I step from the kitchen, into that hallway and walk the opposite way of the small hospital room, hoping he didn't decide to come back early and get mad at me.

The strange hall seemed to go on forever, slightly curving as I followed it. Where was this leading? Did it even lead anywhere? It seemed to follow the entire perimeter of the house.

It finally ended though at a large door and I felt suddenly queezy and a bit afraid. I wasn't sure what was in this room or what could have been so important to keep it this far away. I slowly and carefully, terrified out of my mind that I'd find something fucked up.

I turned the cold nob and let out a shakey breath as I pushed to door open excruciatingly slowly, terrified. It opened to reveal a dark room. I step in, running my hands along the walls until I found a switch. I flipped if and gasped, stumbling back.

The room was filled with pictures of me in various places over the past three years. I shut the door and looked around in shock and bewilderment as I walked in more. There was a desk across the room from me and I waled over to it. I sat down and looked in the drawers, finding letters. I pull them out, placing them on the desk and began to read.

My Dearest Valentine,

I know you do not know me but I must make you know of my existence.
For over a month I've been unable to think of anyone but you. I know you will think I am crazy, that I am a stalker, but I am not crazy or a stalker. I love you and you don't know of me. I've wanted to talk to you for so long but I can't make myself do it. I am too scared to talk to you.
I wish to hear your smooth and sweet voice saying my name, or just even look at me in the way I look at you. I love the way you hold yourself and the way you always are confident and smiling.
I know you have a girlfriend and probably don't even like men but I just...I can't help myself.
I fell in love the first night I saw you, your laugh, your smile, your everything. The way you spoke and the way you always knew what to say whilst I never can.
I am hoping that one day I could possibly be lucky enough to be loved by you. I would do anything to make you mine and I'd do anything more to make sure you're happy.
Please understand that I am not trying to scare you, I am only trying to make you see that I am here.

B.

Wow... that was... unexpected...

I kept reading more and more, all of them being along the same lines, sometimes mentioning something that'd happened in my life at the times.

Then I found one that caught my attention. It was written hastily and the wording was off.

My love,

You can't ever join that agency. I will not allow you to sell your body! It is not for all of them to see! You have to respect yourself more than that! I know you do not see yourself as I see you, a perfect little angel that deserves everything. But you have to start caring more.
Those scars along your skin should not be there and those frowns should not be stealing your beautiful lips.
You know your girlfriend is cheating and you know it bothers me. I've mentioned before that you should never be with her! She does not deserve someone as amazing as you.
I am going to get you my love. I will take you away from all that. You will be safe with me, and you will be happy. I have money, more than enough. I have love, more than you can handle. You are my everything, my Dearest Valentine. I'll make all your problems go away.

B.

Oh my. Id never gotten any of these letters before. Why didn't he send them? Was he scared I'd run? Id loved to have gotten these...

"Valen, I'm home!" Comes over a speaker and I jolt. I jump from the seat and run from the room and into the kitchen quickly before he got there, forcing my breath to even out.

"Hello, Valen. How was your day?" He asks, entering the kitchen soon after I did.

I shrug and don't look at him, causing him to sigh and scratch the back of his neck. I knew he didn't like that I never replied the way he wished, that I didn't love him the way he loved me. But I can't. There's absolutely no way I could. I needed him to learn that but he just wouldn't.

"Valen please...I know you hate me but please give me a chance," He begs quietly. The words from his letters pop into my mind, causing me to close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. I felt so bad for him. He wasn't a bad looking guy for real, and he wasn't a mean one either, just a little confused and all.

"Braden you kidnapped me. You chained me up in a dark room, you starved me. How am I supposed to love you when you-" I turn to face him only to see him directly behind me. He pins me down against the island, my hands above me. I shudder and stare up at him. His green eyes were filled with anger and hurt and I felt my heart speed up. I'd angered him. Was he going to send me back go that room? I swallow the lump in my throat and let out a small whimper.

"Valentine you know I love you! What I do is for you!" He says with tears forming in his eyes. He let's go of my hands and lays his head against my chest and starts to cry. I was shocked. I'd not seen him cry before. I just lay there however, not knowing what to do. He wraps his arms around me and places his head in the crook of my neck. I sigh and wrap my arms around him carefully, patting and rubbing his back some awkwardly as he cried.