"Shoot, I'm going to be late to Mike's I told him I'd be there twenty minutes ago. Shoot shoot shoot." Carrie cursed herself when she realized what time it was. She'd been out with Ivey and lost track of time.
"I gotta go, I'll catch up with you later!" Carrie told Ivey, who was checking out at Victoria's Secret.
Before Ivey could even answer, Carrie had disappeared from the store and Ivey was left at the checkout confused and alone.
Carrie and Mike had only been together for a couple weeks and Carrie didn't want to make him upset.
She quickly hopped into her car and sped out of the parking lot and towards Mike's house.
When she arrived, Mike was waiting for her in the kitchen.
"There you are, where have you been?" He put the glass in his hand down and walked towards her.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry, I lost track of time at the mall with Ivey and didn't realize it. I'm sorry, please don't get mad."
"Carrie I-" Mike brought his arm up to place it on his shoulder but Carrie interrupted him.
"Please don't hurt me I'm sorry." She scrunched up and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the hit.
Mike was completely taken back by the words that had just come out of her mouth. "What? Why would I hurt you Carrie?"
Carrie lowered her arms and looked up at the man in front of her. "You're not going to hit me? You're not mad?"
"Of course I'm not mad Carrie, you think I would hit you?" Mike felt his heart sink as he realized what was happening. "Carrie, did your last boyfriend hit you?"
Carrie felt tears fill her eyes and start spilling out and down her cheeks. Her heart was racing out of her chest and she was having trouble breathing.
"Carrie please answer me. Did he hurt you?" Mike very gently rubbed her arm to comfort her.
Carrie finally looked up at him and after a minute of silence, she answered.
"Yes." She muttered so quietly it could barely be heard.
"Oh my- Carrie." Mike pulled Carrie's shaking body into his and embraced her tightly. He had no idea what to say. His heart was shattering. How could someone ever hurt someone as sweet and innocent as Carrie?
"I'm so sorry Carrie, I'm so sorry." Mike squeezed her tight and kissed the top of her head. He led her over to the couch where she sat up and looked at him with teary eyes.
"It's okay." She sniffled, trying to make herself stop crying.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Mike spoke gently.
Carrie shrugged her shoulders. "He's the only guy I've ever been in a serious relationship with, I don't really know any different."
"How long were you together?"
"Three years." She muttered.
"He abused you for three years?" Mike almost spit out the water he'd just taken a sip of.
"No. He's always had some anger issues but they weren't bad at first. It just progressed and then I got stuck. I was too afraid to try and leave."
"Carrie I'm so sorry, that's horrible." Mike couldn't help but hug her again. He just wanted to hug her and never let her go. She didn't deserve that.
"Look at me." Mike placed his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her hurting eyes. "No one deserves to be in an abusive relationship, especially you. You deserve so much better than that Carrie. You should be treated like a princess every single day. No man should ever hit a woman. I promise that I will never lay a hand on you and I will never hurt you. You deserve to be treated like a princess and I aim to do that every single day. Don't worry, I'm not going to get upset with you and I'm most definitely not going to hurt you because of it. Ever."
"Thank you Mike." Carrie wiped the many tears off her face and sniffled. "That means so much."
Mike used his thumb to gently wipe the tears off Carrie's face. He leaned forward and softly kissed her.
They both let the kiss linger as long as they could. This had been their first kiss since they'd met a little over a month ago.
Carrie pulled away with a smile, trying to hide her blushing. Mike couldn't help but smile back.
Finally, Carrie felt like she could relax for the first time in years and be herself. No one was going to yell at her or hurt her when she messed up. No one was going to slap her across the face for absolutely no reason. She finally found someone that didn't expect her to be perfect. Someone that loved her, flaws and all.
