Clare and Avery: A love story

The Story

TRIGGER WARNING!
June 17th 2018:
I was meeting Avery today, it would be the first time since leaving my mum after the...incident. I was advised to wear skirts and dresses at this time but that was fine by me because of the height temperatures summer was bringing this year. I still didn't feel right, and I had been prescribed antidepressants that had to be monitored by my mum incase I tried to overdose, the pills made me feel worse, but in the long run they'd probably work. On arriving at Avery's house, my hands were wet with sweat and my legs were stuck to the leather seats of my car Ali had bought. I had to mentally prepare myself before walking up to Avery's door, but this all proved useless as I flung myself into her arms, once again bursting into tears, we stood in the hallway hugging for a while until Avery eventually eased me off her.
"What happened?" I bowed my head to the floor as Avery said this...I knew what was coming but it would be hard...so hard.
Avery lead me into her living room, the room was really snug and cozy, as unusual as that sounds in the middle of summer. Too uncomfortable to slouch down for the conversation that was coming, I perched on the edge of a sofa, Avery sat on the other sofa, avoiding eye contact with me and muttering to herself before turning to me. "So...what?"
"You promise not to hate me"
"Clare! How could you say that! How could I ever hate you?" Avery exclaimed leaning closer to me.
"I have an addiction" I said biting down on my lip, I'd expected Avery to respond to this, but she just sat, nodding.
"I get forced into abusing my addiction sometimes. It's something I've had since I was about 18 and it's the way I relieve pain and sadness and anger..." I couldn't say it, I wouldn't be able to say it out loud, but could I show her the scars? They frightened me, I was frightened that I could do that to myself, but I couldn't hide them from her, I love her.
"Avery..." I paused, "Under my dress...There's...something you should see I suppose"
"Ok?" Avery said cautiously, walking over to come sit next to me.
I closed my eyes as Avery began to pull my dress up, she did it slowly, as if she was afraid, I understand why she would be. She pulled my dress up further to reveal the first scar, the way the light shone on my skin, you could see that it was a fresh wound, the colour drained from Avery's face as she gasped at seeing the first scar, lifting my dress up further, the scars got deeper and deeper.
"I'm addicted to...harming myself" I said, choking on the lump in my throat. "I was...I took it hard, my family not accepting me and...I cut, I cut to de-deep, I bled out, I nearly, I nearly died Avery. I lost lots of blood, it's happened before and I think my mum knew so she op-opened my lock somehow and found me, I've been on medication and stuff I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. I-" tears streamed down my face as I turned to the side to see Avery shaking and crying. Avery embraced me in a hug that assured me she would never let me go.
"Don't ever leave me Clare" she cried, "I'm here for you, always". "I wish I knew Clare. Please tell me if you ever feel like you need to hurt yourself again please" I could hear the longing in her voice, it was the voice my family had used the first time, the voice they use when they think they've already lost me.
"I love you" we said in unison as I rested my head on Avery's shoulder, "I promise I'll never leave you"