Mixed Messages ~ {d.w}

➵Twenty Seven

"Are you feeling better?" Damian asks after only a few minutes. He'd calmed me down after I was freaking out. I was funny. I thought I had my anxiety under control but I guess I don't.

"Yeah," I mumble, "I guess." I roll over to my side, facing away from Damian. I was laying in his bed, in his room. I had burst in through the doors as he changing. All he had was his shirt off. I didn't even notice. I felt like I was an intruder, but he didn't care. He wasn't awkward about it. I heard him moving around, opening draws. He must have been changing. There was a mirror in his room too. I could see the bruises already forming on his back. I frown, blinking back a few tears. My eyes had watered from my attack and they were started to drip down my face. I wasn't sad, just nervous.

"Why are you crying?" Damian questions me, yet again. He rushes over to the side I'm facing. He leans down onto the bed, washing a hand over my head. He wipes his thumb over my cheek, sliding away from the tears.

I wasn't crying. I giggle instead, I have to stop when I see him frown. "I- I am- I... I'm not crying..." I finally wheeze out. "I'm just really nervous... Anxiety, you know," I finally smile a bit, jokingly. Damian's not buying it. "Sorry..." I murmur, tracing a finger across his cheek. He lightly grins, moving to sit on the edge of his bed. I sit up a little bit, putting a pillow across his lap. I lay in my in it, sniffling a bit. Damian begins stroking my hair. It felt, comforting.

INCOMING MESSAGES
6:23 am

Damian:

"Where did you go?"
"I thought you were sleeping in my room tonight."
"Did something come up?"

Echo:

"Yeah"
"My computer finished processing. Thought I'd finish up my work.... you know?"
"It's almost done anyway"

Damian:

"I see."

That was the end of that conversation. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to Damian. I'm not allowed to have that kind of relationship. Those were the only words in my mind. I'm not allowed. I'm not allowed. I'm not allowed.

I... I couldn't...

I stare at the computer. It had finished processing long ago. Hours ago. It was done. Any trace of my existence, my messages, anything. Everything was done. Damian would be safe and I... I'm not sure about that.

I was back in the spare bedroom. I had snuck out around midnight when I heard the ding of my computer. I could leave right now but I'd lose everything... I... want out of Cyber. I want my own life. I want my freedom back.

OUTGOING MESSAGES
6:31 am

Echo:

"Damian... can we talk?"

Damian:

"Of course. What about?"

Echo:

"No. I mean"
"Can we... talk. In person."
"Please?"

Damian:

"Of course. I'll be there in a minute."

True to his word, Damian steps through the door in a minute.  He looks worried, still in his pajamas. He looks cute. I'm still sitting on the floor, like always. "Hey..." I wave, scooting over on the ground. I wasn't sure if he would sit on the ground, it was making me wonder if I was weird for sitting on the ground so much. Was I?

However that anxiety was gone once Damian sat on the floor, crossing his legs. He knows that I want to talk about something and he patiently waits for me to start.

I fumble with my hands, "so- uh... my work- is done," I quickly say. I stare at my hands, afraid to see Damian's reaction. "I'll uh- be leaving...-soon! Uh- um- thanks for letting me stay...." I rush out, stuttering my way through the entire sentence. There was silence floating around the room. It makes me uncomfortable, even though I work in silence. Every, single, day.