Better With You

XXIII

LUKE'S POV

"I'm sorry, babe. It's just I'm still not over this nightmare. Can I see your wrists?" I asked.

Her face went pale like she just saw a ghost.

"Ryder?" I asked gently.

She turned away from me.

"Ryder please. I care about you so much." I pleaded.

She was about to shut down on me.

"Please don't shut me out. I want to see your wrists to see if you're okay. Not to make fun of you." I said in a calming voice.

She sighed in defeat.

"I'll be right back." She mumbeled going into the bathroom.

She came out with her sleeves rolled up.

"I had to take the makeup off. Even though I'm wearing long sleeves, one wrong move and my sleeve could've rolled up." She said turning the bedroom light on.

She came onto the bed by me.

"Ready?" She asked.

I nodded.

She slowly rolled up her sleeves.

I gasped as I touched her arms.

"Ryder." I whispered as I traced a scar.

"They're fading." She whispered.

"But you still did that." I said, sadness in my voice.

Why would she do this to herself?

She's too beautiful to have these ugly scars.

"D-Do you think about dying?" I asked.

"Sometimes." She whispered.

"I could've done more." I said.

"How?" She asked.

"I could've just cut ties with everyone sooner. You wouldn't have these if I did that." I said.

"It's all my fault. I really am a coward." She said.

I pulled her into a tight hug.

I wasn't letting go anytime soon.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"If I squeeze hard enough, all your broken pieces will come together." I said.