A Thousand Lies

Chapter 9

Song: don't let daddy kiss me

Chapter name: silence

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Alec

As I step into my room, I immediately notice Temperance under the sheets of my bed. I keep my gaze on her fragile body. I take a step forward, her eyes are closed and her cheeks are red.

She is asleep, but droplets of sorrow dry on her delicate face.

My knuckles gently touch her cheek as I attempt to push a hair out of her face. She opens her eyes and slaps my hand away, terrified.

"What's wrong?" Utter shock flows through me from her reaction. She doesn't dare look at me as she shakes her head now.

Is there a book on how to deal with girls?

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Temperance

My heart is desperate to talk to this man. It forms sentences that don't arise past my rib cage. The words die in my throat.

I want to talk to him but my lips stay locked together, not daring to open.

"Did you take a shower?" He asks me. I shake my head no. He goes silent, thinking. "Go take a bath. I'll get you a towel and some clothes."

He is so sweet to me. Someone disgusting like me doesn't deserve that.

I stand up. Still burning. From my peripheral vision I see his body vanish into the hall. I take a breath before deciding I should go to the bathroom before he gets back.

I painfully make my way down the bathroom. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror.

I don't want to see myself.

I hear Alec's gentle knock at the door and I grab my clothes. He spends no time closing the door back, letting me have peace.

I place everything on the counter. There is a bathtub the size of a jacuzzi with jets in the side.

I peel off my clothes and avoid looking down at my naked body.

I set the water on hot and adjust it so it wouldn't burn me. I step in and place my foot against one of the jets.

The air that shoots from the jets tickle the bottom of my foot. I let myself be incased in the liquid, the sounds of nothing fill my head.

Bubbles escape my lips and as my chest starts to burn I lift head out of the water, taking in a breath of air.

I stay in the bath for thirty minutes before finally washing myself.

My skin is raw as I continue to scrub it with the loofa.

I can still feel his touch.

I get out and wrap the towel around me, drying off. I keep my back turned towards the mirror. I can't bear to see the brokenness of my body.