Swell (Complete)

Chapter Twenty-One

TRIGGER WARNING – SELF HARM SCARS

"For you I would breathe underwater,
And for you I would fly without wings,
And for you I would run like the sun chases the moon,
Cause everything I do is all for you."

....

Having her in our house was intoxicating.
It was as if she filled the entire space with her presence.
I moved to her side of the bed, standing over her as the TV flickered a blue light in the room.
I'd watched people sleep before, but there was something breathtaking about her dark hair framing such pale skin.
I knelt down on my knees to be level with her face.
Her voluminous lips called to mine, but I didn't dare close the space between them.
I slowly followed her shape, my eyes adjusting to the dim light and settling for a few moments on the small rings in her ears.
The only piercings on her body.
I reached out and brushed the sleeper in her lobe.
Adora groaned and my breathed caught. I froze in place, my eyes wide and my body refused to move.
I was caught, waiting for her to open her eyes and see me.
It was agonising to wait.
I don't even know how much time passed before I realised I could breathe, before I realised that though she snuggled the pillow, she wasn't going to wake.
I let go of a long, shaky breath and felt a shiver run down my spine.
I sank to the floor, sitting on my legs and looking at her straight on.
That was when I caught sight of the white lines on her arms.
It was true.
She had really hurt herself.
A different grief took over then, I felt the air trap itself in my lungs as my face squinted to look closer.
My face stopped centimetres from her arm and I bit my lip and clenched my fists if only to stop myself from caressing her scars.
They hadn't been there for her, they hadn't protected her from anyone, not even herself.
They'd abandoned her to depression and danger.
It would never happen again.
Not as long as I was here.

"I'll keep you safe." I breathed onto her skin,dying inside from being unable to touch her, to hold her and trace her whitelines.
They were raised and broke my heart. How could they have left her to sufferlike that?
Surely she meant more to them than desertion.
I felt my eyes stinging and took a deep breath as I backed my face away fromher forearm.
Her family and friends would never, ever hurt her like that again. I wouldn'tlet them, none of them.
I would protect her, she would see me and the love I have for her.
I'd make sure she knew she could trust me, rely on me, and be safe with me.
Whatever it takes, we'll be together.
Liss was just practise, precious practise for the real thing.