Green Stardust ~ (Sequel to Angel's Love of Two Wings)

Chapter 19

Angel POV

I grabbed his wrist weakly and he stopped. Leo turned around and I pulled my hand back.

"What?" He looked at me.

I looked away and wondered why I wanted him to stay. Or if I was ready to talk about this with him. I wanted to say something, but instead I shook my head and bury my face in the pillow. I started thinking about what happened and wanted to tell him. But something told me I shouldn't. Like I'd earn another beating if I said something, just like old times. That's what my Father would do when I was younger.

"Did you think of an object?" My therapist asks.

"A person, yeah." I nod slowly.

Tears stream down my cheeks and I sniffle. Leo rests his hand on my back and rubs small circles. My body shakes and he probably heard my muffled cries in the pillow. He pulls me towards him to sit up and hugs me.

"Shhh, it's okay." He comforted.

I rest my forehead on his plastron and cry harder. He broke me. I thought. He finally broke me. I'm so damn weak.

Leo's hand holds my head and he strokes my hair to try and help. I cry out and he holds me tighter. He starts humming a song to me and I barely recognize the words that might go with it.

"It's gonna be okay." He whispers.

He continues to hum and the tune is calming, trying to lull me to sleep. I must've been sitting in this position for more than ten minutes. I sniffle and hiccup from crying so much. He pulls back strands of hair hiding my face and looks at me.

"Better?" He asked softly.

"A little, I *hiccup* guess." I sighed. "I hate this. I feel like a helpless child that can't stop crying."

"You're not a helpless child, Angel. And it isn't wrong to cry. Cry for however long you need to. We all do at some point."

I rest my head on his plastron and whisper, "he broke me. He finally did it. I can still hear his horrible laughter ringing in my ears, proud of himself that he's finally beat me and won this round."

That awful laugh won't go away, like it's mocking me, making me worry.

I cringe and shut my eyes, stray tears falling down. Leo wiped my eyes and brought my chin up.

"You aren't broken. You are strong." He said.

I sighed. "Then why does it feel like everything inside me is screaming the opposite?"

"Because it feels defeated. But, what it doesn't know is that there are people—family—who are here to help pick you back up if you can't do it on your own."

"What if...what if I'm too scared because I'll have to face it again and again." I looked away. "It's like reliving a nightmare. Every time I close my eyes or hear a certain sound, I remember him beating me to death, and being alone."

"You won't be alone." He said.

I look at him and he smiles reassuringly.