Old Love Dies Hard (spinoff of life happens)

Chapter XXI - The Truth (2)

This is the second part of the chapter "The Truth". Please make sure you read the first part before reading this.

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"H-he cornered when I was leaving and I thought he was trying to explain himself because I'm generally an idiot" I say

"As you might have expected, that wasn't his plan" Mason's hand squeezes mine harder

"I still remember how disgusted I was. He put his hand under my shirt but I flicked it away-"
"-Amna" Mason tries to say something but I stop him

"Please let me finish" I plead and he nods grimly

"Then he held my wrists. He knew I would try to hit him. Then he.... then he kissed my neck. I tried to scream, he put a hand on my mouth. He kept doing disgusting stuff like this and there was a ridiculous moment, Mason, where I just kind of gave up. I stopped struggling, I was ready to be ruined because that would be it. That would be the reason I could use to completely destroy myself. I felt disgusted with myself, I wanted to kill myself. He was shocked when I stopped struggling, his grip on my wrist loosened and that was when I came back to my senses. I thought 'what the hell? No! Do something' and I did it. My chair was broken and I took the piece of wood and smashed it against him, I have no idea which part of him I hit, but I'm glad I did it" I pause.

"I still remember how it felt. The pain wasn't just in my heart, it was everywhere. It had seeped through my bones, I was shaking with anger. I wanted to turn into ash, I wanted to disappear. I was so done with the world and with all the cruel people in it. I had no reason to stay happy. I can't believe I let someone do that to me"

For a moment, there is silence in the room.
The kind of silence that screams louder than any argument.
And suddenly, I don't know how and I don't know when, I start crying - harder.
I sob and howl like a child.
I. Have. Let. It. All. Out
It's off of my chest!
It's gone. It's over with!
I cry harder.

Something unexpectedly beautiful and improper happens at that moment
Mason hugs me.
I give in to his embrace, tucking my head under his chin.

"I'm so so proud of you" he whispers and I sob again.

"Cry all you want, sweetheart." he smooths my hair. I nod against his chest.

He plays cool, is he not aware that I can hear his haywire heartbeat?

I hug him tighter, probably robbing him of all his breathe but he doesn't mind because he hugs me tighter too.
He cradles my head with one arm and holds me in place with the other.
I want to thank him but all my mouth seems to do right now is cry.
So I sob into his warm embrace, which is like a protection.
My hands ball into fists behind his back, gathering his shirt in them.

"Don't...le-leave m-e" I choke out. A little chuckle spreads through him.
Why is he laughing!?

"Oh don't you worry, broccoli. I'm right here" he says
"There's nowhere better than here" he whispers, his hand still smoothing my hair

I don't care what it is that I feel for him, I just know that whatever it is, it takes up all of me. He takes up all of me. And surprisingly, I'm totally okay with that.

He unclasps his hands from behind me and cups my cheek
"You are the strongest and most beautiful girl I've ever met" he smiles and makes me smile through my tears too