[[[all of your flaws]]] [[[part i]]]

12.

She didn't even last the opening credits before I'd turned to her and found her slumped over the arm of the sofa, fast asleep. She must've been exhausted. I tried not to watch her sleeping, because that was pretty creepy, but I couldn't stop wondering what her story was. What had been so bad that she'd fled her home with no money, no plan, nothing? I knew my life right then wasn't as good as it had been. Sure, I had money and this amazing house, but as of twenty four hours ago, I was now single and not too sure what I was doing with myself anymore. And just as I walked out of Laura's life, Lily had walked into mine. And I hoped I could help her. She seemed as lost as I felt.

I busied myself around the flat while she slept. I unpacked all the things that Laura had given me back, contemplating just throwing them away. The hoodies she'd borrowed and worn, all the photos we'd taken together, stupid key chains and birthday cards. I decided to put them in the bottom of my wardrobe in the bedroom upstairs. I don't even know why. I just couldn't bring myself to destroy them.

I sat by my piano in the corner of the room, playing as quietly as I could, looking over every few minutes to check I hadn't disturbed her. I got quite a lot of writing done that afternoon.

By eight o clock, and she still hadn't woken up, I found it hard to keep awake myself. I probably should've woken her to get her to eat, but she clearly needed the sleep. I bought down a blanket from my room and draped it over her. I hoped she wasn't too confused if she woke up in the night. I left a note on the coffee table beside her.

'Help yourself to food. I'm upstairs if you need me.'

I turned off the lights and the tv and dived into bed, thinking about the mysterious girl currently living on my sofa.

I awoke to the sound of my alarm at 6am. I snoozed it for five minutes before admitting I really had to get up and shower. I wondered if she'd woken in the night and was still here? I quickly got ready and went down stairs quietly. From the kitchen I could see her arm hanging off the side of the sofa. How could she have slept so long? We'd arrived back here at midday yesterday and she'd fallen asleep not long after. A terror rose up in me. I had to check she was still breathing.

Sure enough, she was sleeping. The blanket was tossed onto the floor and she was upside down star fishing across the sofa, face down. I smiled to myself. She'd clearly felt at home enough to get a decent deep sleep. But I couldn't draw my eyes away from where her tshirt had ridden up her back, showing a large purple bruise. I felt an anger rise up inside me.

I felt so weary about leaving her alone all day. I jotted down my mobile number next to the house phone by the front door, along with a note saying I'd be back later and left a key and £10 in change.

All day I was nervous. I hoped she was ok. I could barely concentrate on what I was doing. In between recording sessions I checked my phone but she hadn't rang. I didn't want to ring the house in case she thought I was checking up on her. Which of course I was. What if she'd just left? I didn't even have a last name to trace her. I'd left someone I had known for five minutes in my home, alone. I instantly hated myself for thinking it, but what if she took my stuff? She could've been anyone.

I rushed home at four. The money I'd left by the phone was gone. I sighed. I was clearly far too trusting.