My Flower

Forget

Bellas POV

The morning sun crept above the window sill at 5 am. The cotton sheets were stained with blood and the bars over the windows reminded me of the feeling in my chest; cold. Julian stirred behind me and my body went stiff. He laced his arm over my back and I whined with pain. His eyes shot open and he cupped my face.

"Flower I'm so sorry! I had forgotten about the cuts." He kissed my temple and I gagged.

"I will make you breakfast, you must be starving."

I hate to admit that I was starving. It had been almost a full day since I had eaten anything at all. He climbed out of bed and untied my arm from the bed, my raw skin began to burn. He left the room and soon the smell of pancakes filled my nose.

Would he try to drug me?

The thought crossed my mind as I walked over to the window and ran my fingers over the cold bars. Snow, it had begun to snow. It was in that moment I knew we weren't in the same state anymore, we had to have moved north, perhaps Maine.

I heard a soft knock on the door and I jumped.

"Flower why don't you come outside? The food is almost done the cooking."

I walked over to the door and placed my hand on the doorknob reluctantly. Out of fear of being punished for disobedience I opened the door and walked into the living area. My shirt had been covered in blood that now clung to my skin, it was beginning to get uncomfortable. I hadn't had the time to pay attention to my surroundings yesterday, the living room had dark wooden floors with an old brick fireplace right in the center. Under different circumstances, it may have even seemed cozy.

My stomach growled and I walked over to a small dining table which was now filled with stacks of pancakes and plates of various items. My mouth watered as Julian began filling two plates with food.

"Don't be shy Bella, I wanted to make this breakfast special."

"S-special?" I questioned. Julian paused and I bit my lip.

"Yes, flower. Don't you think this is special?" He looked hurt.

I immediately realized that I had said something wrong.

"Y-yes! It is, it's very special."

He smiled at me and sat down at the opposite end of the table. I looked down at my plate and hesitated to pick up my fork after Julian had begun stuffing his face I decided that the food was safe. Everything tasted of pure bliss, nothing I ever ate after this could possibly measure to the taste. I must have been eating like a pig because Julian had started to laugh at me.

"What?" I asked with my mouth full.

"Nothing." He smiled, "You just have a little of everything on your face that's all."

I felt my cheeks turn red and I grabbed a napkin to wipe my face clean. Julian left the room and I took a gulp of orange juice. After a few minutes, he came back to the kitchen and bent down in front of me with his hands folded behind his back.

"I have a gift for you." He said proudly.

I stared at him with wide eyes as he pulled out a small rectangular box from behind his back.

"I wanted our first day together to be special." He said as he opened the lid.
In the box lay a small bracelet adorned with tiny silver petals. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

"F-for me?" I stuttered nobody had ever given me such a gift before.

He chuckled "Yes for you my flower."

After slipping on the bracelet he looked out the window and smiled.

"Go put on something warm, I have another surprise."

I walked back into the bedroom and opened the closet. Julian had found out exactly what size I wore. The thought made me shiver.

What else did he know?

I sorted through some things until I found a white sweater and a thick brown jacket. After putting them on I went to go find Julian who was sitting in the living room. He grabbed my hand and unlocked a series of locks using a single key. My heart dropped when I realized there would be only one key, and Julian had it.

I was lead outside by Julian and I looked out at the snow-covered trees, it was truly beautiful. He smiled at me and threw snow at me from a short distance away.

"Come on Bella, snowball fight!"

He was like a child laughing and playing in the snow. He seemed so innocent and sweet. This man had made me breakfast, given me shelter, clothes, gifts. He had some problems but so does everyone else. Maybe Julian wasn't so bad after all.

I smiled as I launched a snowball at his face.

My thoughts seemed to run together. I had already begun to forget the boy who kissed me on my doorstep, and the plump cat Shelly that purred at my feet, I even began to forget my mother who held me so close. The facts began to blur and fade, Julian didn't want to hurt me.

For now, it was me and Julian, and that was okay.