Please | Demi Lovato

2

Demi

It had been a normal day. Wilmer and I woke up wrapped around each other, intent on spending the day in a similar state. It was rare we had the same day off, so when we did we tried to make the most of it. Until, the knock on the door sounded and Eveline Davis showed up.

I knew who the little girl was the moment I saw her. There was no mistaking those brown eyes; a mirror image of my father's, and my own. I saw the bruises on her wrists, and the way her eyes darted around the room, as if she was still waiting for Patrick to come out and drag her back. I saw the four year old I used to be, and it brought back memories too painful to think about.

But I saw the look on Wilmer's face; he had always been a sucker for a charity case. It was the basis of our entire relationship. He never turned down the chance to help somebody, and it was why I loved him so much, why he was such a better person than me.

So I signed the papers, and now I was hiding in my office as Wilmer made dinner for all of us, Emily sitting on the counter and watching him. I didn't want to be around her, all it made me think of was my experiences with my dad, the times he had hurt and my mom, the times he had stood there and watched as others hurt me.

"Demi?" I looked up from the window and saw Wilmer standing in the doorway. "Dinner's ready."

"Okay." I forced a smile and walked over, he kissed my forehead and put his arm around my shoulders. "What did you make?"

"Pasta with chicken. I don't know what she likes, really. I think the only thing your dad fed her was pizza and frozen food. I don't think she's ever really had real home-cooked food."

I sighed and nodded. "He was never much of a cook."

"Are you okay?" Wilmer stopped walking and turned to look at me. "I know this is hard for you, but she's just a kid. I couldn't let her just go into the system now that we know about her. I would feel so guilty."

"I'm fine. I know your reasons Wilmer, and I'm not saying I don't feel the same way. I want to help her, but it's too hard to be around her. She's exactly like I was when I was a kid, too afraid to even step on the carpet in case you got hit for getting it dirty. I did the same thing when I went to Eddie's house for the first time, and I spilled Kool Aid all over his white couch. The similarities are too much to handle right now."

Wilmer pulled me into his arms and his lips pressed against my temple. "I know she brings back memories, but maybe that's a good thing. Maybe helping her will help you work through your issues with what Patrick did to you."

"Maybe, or maybe it'll make it worse."

Wilmer pulled away and raised one eyebrow. "Well there's only one way to find out."

Emily sat across from me during dinner, while Wilmer sat at the head of the table. She kept her eyes down on her food, clumsily using the too-big fork to spear pasta, chicken and broccoli into her mouth. It was cute, but it also made me sad thinking of all of the things my father had deprived this little girl of.

"Is Kelsey coming to bring her clothes?"

I glanced at Wilmer and nodded. "She's at Target now getting some basics, when she knows her size and there's more time we'll go shopping again."

"What about the paparazzi?"

"They're going to find out about her at some point." I sighed, and looked at Emily, catching her staring at me before her eyes widened and she looked back down at her food. "We just have to figure out what to say."

"The truth?"

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "No comment for right now. The truth is too messy, and they'll splash her across every gossip site in the world. At this point, we just keep it to ourselves, and don't make any statement."