Kimberley bored into my eyes, begging me to trust her, her eyebrows furrowed. I drew in a deep breath and held it for a second or two before breathing out heavily. Kimberley gripped onto both my hands, giving them a squeeze of reassurance. My minded toyed between keeping it all to myself or telling her. I was scared she'd think badly of me and leave me but I was also scared that if I didn't tell her she'd get bored of my secrecy and how much I kept myself to myself all the time and I didn't want her to feel as if I didn't trust her; I did trust her, completely. I was just scared. I looked Kimberley straight in the eye, she stared back, urging me to trust her and tell her. I took in another deep breath and held it for longer this time, I closed my eyes and kept hold of the breath before my lungs felt like they were about to explode, I quickly let the breath slowly draw through my nose and mouth. I opened my eyes again and before I could think any further I began talking, telling her, telling her everything.
"I do trust you Kimberley, I promise, I'm just scared you're going to leave me"
"I won't leave you, I promise baby" Kimberley told me, entwining our fingers and shuffling slightly closer to where I was sat.
"My mam, well, she has this boyfriend, Steve, Well..he's umm..a drug addict a-and he makes me get them"
"Get what babe?"
The drugs, he sends me out to get them and if I don't he hits me" The tears were falling freely down my cheeks now, I couldn't breathe properly, the words were coming out in a blubbered mess. Kimberley held me close, a shocked look, plastered all over her face a few stray tears tumbled down her cheek.
"Does your mum know?"
"No, he hits me where it's not obvious and threatens to..to..to do it worse if I tell her or anybody. He--he-he went away for a few months and she was fine with me but now he's b-back and n-now everything is going to-to change again, I'm scared"
Kimberley squeezed me tightly, pulling me into a hug so my head was resting on her chest, my tears crashing down onto her soft, white, woolen jumper. Kimberley wrapped her arms tightly around my slightly shaking body, shushing me and stroking my hair, leaving little kisses on the top of my head.
"Is he at your house now?" Kimberley asked and I just nodded.
"Babe, you need to tell your mum"
"No..no..my mam won't believe me"
"She will, you need to sit her down and talk to her."
"Will you come with me?" I sat up and looked at Kimberley, my eyes pleading with her.
"If you want me to, I will"
"I do"
"Lets go now, the quicker the better okay?"
I nodded and Kimberley gave me one last long hug before standing up and pulling me with her. She picked up her keys off the coffee table and took hold of my hand leading me to the front door. "Here, put this on, it's cold out" Kimberley handed me one of her jackets, a soft burgandy coloured one with a hood. Kimberley put her jacket on and we both put our shoes on before heading out to her car. I slowly clambered in, carefully trying not to cause myself and my ribs any more unecessary pain and we set off.
* * *
We arrived outside my house, I stared out the window of Kimberey's car and she came round to my side of the car and let me out. Probably getting the vibe I was just going to sit there and not move. She took my hand and lead me up the front door and I let us both in.
I looked at Kimberley and she gave me a reassuring smile and gave my hand a small squeeze.
"Mam?"
