The Silence Isn't So Bad.

Crying To The Point Of Sleep

The second I heard the words leave his mouth I peaked around the corner of the door. My mom gently pulled me out the rest of the way and gestured to my petite figure.

"And that's her..." He said pointing to me. I trained my eyes on the floor, clearly not enjoying this awkward encounter. Mom turned to me.

"Honey I think you should talk-," She paused and cleared her throat. The boy raised his eyebrows not understanding. "with him for a while... Do you want me to get your stuff?" I just sighed and nodded. She jogged over to the kitchen counter and came back. She'd happened to grab my oldest notebook. The one with the disney princesses on it... My face heated up with the rushing blood in my cheeks. How embarrassing.

I brushed passed the boy definitely wanting to talk to him. Can you blame me? Imagine what you would do if you woke up in a different place after being saved by some stranger then blacking out.

I plopped down on the porch steps before I could remember that I was injured. Tears brimmed my eyes as I let out a small whimper. He approached me slowly, as if I'm a frightened animal about to run at a sudden movement. Well, that is how I feel. My hands are pressed firmly against the step so I can easily push myself up and away if the need presents itself.

"Er, I'm Jesse by the way." He said nervously sticking his hand towards me. I nodded and shook it. I could tell by his pause he was waiting for me to introduce myself.

"Um what's your name?" He asked awkwardly. I just sighed and took out the notebook.

"Look, I know we don't know each other but I introduced myself. I just thought that after last night-" I cut him off by tearing out the piece of paper and placing it on the step beside me. When he glanced down I slid it towards him slowly.

My name is Dempsey. Thank you so much. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't showed up.

Actually I know very well what would have happened. I could picture waking up in the same place I was knocked out. Except, with the way Tommy was acting, the difference would be my clothing. Little, or none. I shuddered and tears formed. Quickly I blinked them back before Jesse could see.

"Oh, um, I just did what anyone else would have." He said being ridiculously modest. I just shook my head several times.

No you don't understand. No one would have done that for me. Maybe my mom or Ronnie, but other than that I would have just been ignored. If they had reacted to the scene at all it would have been to join in on the beating.

When I passed him the paper he gave me yet another odd look. Soon he'll start asking questions...

I watched his beautiful blue eyes flicker back and forth scanning the page. I could tell when he read the second sentence, a little crease of worry formed between his eyebrows. When he finished he placed the note down and slowly turned to me, completely revealing his eyes. The emotions in them were enough to make me cry.

They were full of pity, pity and sadness and anger. It was as if he had suddenly watched me relive my life, just by reading those little sentences. He'd some how seen all of my sadness and fear, all of my self-loathing for being this way. I'm sure he meant that look as one of comfort but him seeing my emotions so easily and recognizing the fact that I was hurt just made it worse. My thinking was that if Jesse could see them then other people could see them. And yet, they did nothing to help me. What I had said to Jesse was true. I was never helped... If anything, people just joined in the fight.

Even teachers refused to help me. My mother had gone to the principal many times because of the bruises that coated me at the end of the day. No matter how hard she argued and pleaded, they did nothing. Each time they reluctantly told her that, in the long run, I would be a better person because of this. I would be more anxious to help others. All of that is true, but I like to believe that I would be a good, helpful person without being beaten half-to-death.

"Dempsey?" Jesse asked waving a hand in front of my face. I glanced up from the ground and saw the same look intensified. I had silently, unknowingly started crying while thinking but adding that cursed look into the equation I was a bawling baby.

I gasped and covered my mouth, failing to hold in a chocking sob. My body shook as I tried my best to control my breathing.

Obliviously not knowing what to do, Jesse reached out and shyly took hold of my hand. Feeling oh so fragile I succumbed to his soothing voice telling me it would be all right. Pathetically I cried out again before wrapping my arms around him and continued to sob this time into his chest, surly ruining his shirt. After a seconds hesitation I felt strong arms wind around me pulling me into his lap, my legs on either side of him. For the first time in a long time I cried myself to sleep with someone comforting me, someone who cares.