Affection | N.H

Chapter 25

("Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive." -Josephine Hart)

This is so not me. I had never imagined I will be laying on bed, half naked, with a guy I met a month and a half ago. With the same guy who has caused so much misery to my heart, to my soul.

I gulp back the lump in my throat that formed when I thought of the possible things Niall could do to me now. I don't have any experience regarding these things. My thoughts are soon answered when Niall lowers himself and kisses my forehead before rolling off me.

He didn't do anything. He didn't touch me, he just kissed me.

I turn on my side to face Niall. He raises an eyebrow as if asking me, "what?" I shake my head and smile. My respect for him has grown even more after tonight.

Niall shifts on his side to face me too. "Now tell me?" He requests. My smile vanishes and I am soon reminded of how badly Niall must've judged me after witnessing my never ending scars covering almost my whole body.

I sit up and pick up my shirt from the floor. I put it on and pull my jeans up my legs. "Are you going to leave?" Niall asks me, pouting. 

"I am not leaving, I am just putting my clothes on and covering the marks before I start speaking about them." I inform him.

He sits up on the bed and opens his arms for me. "Come here." I oblige and sit on his lap.

"Niall, I don't know where to start from. This has been such a long journey for me." I sigh, truthfully. "Judgement. I am scared of judgement." I continue.

Niall puts his index finger on my lips. "Before you say anything else, I want you to know that I am not sitting here to judge you. I am here to listen to you." He assures me. 

"It's the world. The world did this to me." I let the words escape my mouth and only for Niall to hear. "Go on.." he says following my tone. 

"I-" I jump back in shock as a loud throbbing knock comes from the door. Niall curses under his breath as he gently shifts me on the bed. "I will be back." He nods once and exits the room. I fiddle with my fingers in my lap and try to come up with an explanation for Niall. There is so much to tell an-

"Where is she?!" a familiar voice booms towards the room. "Can you not break into my house!" Niall's voice follows. "Tarisha!" I finally figure out who's voice it is. My mother..

"Mother." I gasp. She stands there at the doorway wearing shorts and a loose tanktop followed by some red toms. Mordern as usual.

"Yes, your mother! What are you doing here? At this hour of the night? And goodness me are you going around being a slut again?" She yells. Niall stands behind her, frozen on his spot, unsure of what to do and surprised by the disgusting words coming from a mother for her daughter.

"Get up and come with me!" she orders.

"But I don't want to come." I defend, looking away from her face.

She lets out a laugh. "Did I just hear you refuse me? I will not repeat my words. Get to your feet, put on your shoes and come with me." She demads.

"You are right. I know that you hate hearing no's from people. I stayed with you thirteen years of my life. You destroyed thirteen years of my life mother. I don't want to live with you anymore. I am in college now and I have a place to live in. You cannot force me." I fight for myself. My eyes finally got the courage to look into my mother's blue ones. 

"You are still seventeen years old and underage! I am still your parent and you have to listen to me! And.." she pauses to come closer to me. I stand on my feet. "Don't you have manners? You do not talk to elders like that in front of stangers." My mother glances back at the frozen Niall once before slapping me across the face. I fall back on the mattress and tears escape my eyes.