I don't want you

Did you do this to yourself?

Entering the room, Angelina stood...motionless at the sight. The room was freezing, ice covered the walls and sharp spikes ice began to pierce into the room. Curled in the corner, Elle sat, crumpled and defeated.

"Elle?" Angelina whispered as her breath hitched in her throat. Seeing her niece, a renewed sense of urgency over took her. "Elle!" She screamed running over to the broken girl. Angelina let out a gasp as she noticed Elle's arms, covered in blood and lines of healing and fresh wounds. She saw the shard of mirror at her side. "Elle...what happened?" Elle simply sat there...too ashamed to even look her in the eyes. Angelina's voice became pleading "Elle....did you...did you do this to yourself?"

Elle looked at the ground...a small tear escaped, she had been caught. She was sure Angelina would abandon her now...she was unworthy of any love. She was dirty and guilty. The tears fell faster.

Angelina took the shard and threw it across the room, out of the older girl's reach. She then leaned down and wrapped her into a hug, rocking gently back and forth. "It's ok, Elle...It's ok. I'm here for you. Always."

Elle was shocked, she was sure that Angelina would want nothing to do with her. The pain was almost too much for her to tolerate again...grief overtook her and she sobbed silently in her aunt's arms. She let go of the fear of breaking down and the belief that she would be a burden. She couldn't keep it in any longer. Angelina began to stroke her hair and hum a lullaby. Elle finally was able to calm down enough to speak. "I'm so sorry" was all she could manage in a slight whisper.

"No. No, Elle I'm sorry. I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most." Elle was amazed at how Angelina was always so selfless and loving. For years Elle shut Angelina out, still she was trying to apologize for not being there. Elle didn't have the strength or desire to argue a fight she knew she would never win though.

"Elle?"

"Mhm?"

"We need to tell someone...a doctor...someone."

"No...please, Angelina...please.." the thought of her secret spreading any further terrified her and she felt hot tears forming in her eyes.

"Shhh..it's ok...I promise..it'll be ok..." Angelina looked at her sister's arms and feared that she wouldn't be able to handle this alone, but didn't want to put Elle through anything else that night. She told her sister she'd be right back, and taking the piece of glass with her to discard, she went after the first aid. Elle winced as she cleaned her arm and Angelina let out a small gasp as she could see the full damage. Though none were very deep, her arms were riddle in lines of various degrees of healing. Angelina finished wrapping her arm in a bandage and Elle felt safer now that it was at least hidden again.

The girls stayed there silently the rest of the night, Angelina continued to hum songs and Elle, emotionally and physically exhausted, fell asleep. Angelina didn't dare leave her side, and quickly joined her in slumber.