When It's Over

20

The door opened and Jewel turned to stare at the man.

He entered with a bag from Target in his hands.

"I come bearing gifts. I could imagine my T-shirts are too big for you. So I got you some underwear, a bra and some lounge wear."

A smile graced Jewel's lips as she took the bag from the man.

"Thank you."

She honestly didn't know why he was still here. Why he was still present in her life after what she'd done to him, all those years ago.

"How are you?"

He asked as he poured himself a glass of water.

"Better than last nigh, I still feel like crap though, but I'd be out of your hair in the morning."

He patted the space on the couch next to him as Jewel filled the space beside him. His arm wrapped around her as she placed her head on his shoulder.

"I like you being here. It gives the space purpose."

He confessed.

She sat up, turning to stare at him.

"After everything I did. Why do you still show up for me?"

She questioned because she was ready to hear the truth. Had the roles been reversed, she might have been laughing at Ryan's demise.

Believing that was what he deserved for the way he treated her.

Instead Ryan opened up his home to her and has always stood in her corner.

"Firstly, we're going to stop with the blame game. Jewel you were being abused in that home."

Water sprang to her eyes.

"For years you kept that to yourself until that ass told the school population you were damaged goods."

A tear rolled down her cheek as her mind replayed a past she tried her hardest to heal from.

"I had no idea and you thought I'd no longer want you so we broke up, too young to understand how to comprehend what you were going through and me feeling ashamed for you and at the same time angry that you didn't trust me enough after two years of being together to tell me your secret."

Jewel shook her head, because the latter part was far from the truth.

"I trusted you, I just didn't want you to look at me differently. You made the hard days easy. When he would..."

She couldn't even say it.

"Knowing that the next day I could come and feel safe and secure in your arms meant the world to me until he aired it out and I felt that someone like you would not want someone like me."

She confessed.

"So when Carlos proposed a solution, I thought after one year I'd be free and I'd make things right with you. But when you heard that I'd moved on with Carlos, you left and never took my calls. It was easier to move on thinking that you hated me instead of questioning what if."

Ryan placed his forehead against hers.

"I left because I felt weak and spineless. Carlos could have provided you with a get out of jail free card when I couldn't. He had the funds and I didn't and since then I promised myself that whenever you needed to escape, I would never be weak and spineless again. I'd have everything you need, the funds, the security and the home."

Jewel wiped at her eyes as she stared at the man in disbelief.

"I'm not asking you to leave your husband and come to me. But I'm letting you know that if need be, I have your get out of jail free card."