touched ✓

lv

"i'm sorry." you apologized when you'd laid on the bed, pulling me close.

my hands

    on your chest.

my face

    settled on warmth.

"for what?"

you buried your face in my hair,

i shouldn't let you hold me like this.

i shouldn't let you caress my skin like

i'm worthy of you.

"i shouldn't have assumed we were together, ya know? i understand that you're not ready for another relationship and i forgot that. i just kind of thought... sorry, i didn't think about your feelings..."

you shouldn't be sorry.

you

     did

          n o t h i n g

                   wrong.

"it's okay... i-it's not you."

                 you must've sensed my tenseness,

                                  my hesitation, "what's wrong, baby?"

"nothing."

i felt your breath hitch as you stroked my hair, "you can tell me, i'm always here for you."

                                                  "i'm fine, i promise."

same thing mom said after the beatings.