Changes That Make Us

The Secret

Monday night Ben and I are cuddled up on his living room couch watching a movie, but I can't get the secret I have to tell him off of my mind. I don't want him to leave me because of it, what if he gets scared and breaks up with me? We have only been together for two weeks but what I have to tell him is important. 

I turn over to face Ben and whisper to him, ¨I need to tell you something, it's important¨ 

A look of concern crosses over his face and he takes my hand to lead me to the back porch. We sit quietly on the steps for a minute.

¨What is it love? You know you can tell me anything,¨ he reassures me.

¨It's kind of a long story,¨ I say.

¨Well, we have all night,¨ he says as a smile spreads across his face.

It's time I stop being afraid of this, it's time I tell him.

¨My ex, before Kade, his name was Henry. When I met him, I thought he was funny and cool, but then he became crazy and unpredicatable,¨ I stop to take a breath because it's hard for me to talk about this. 

Ben sees this and takes my hand in his, then I continue, ¨When we broke up, it was because he was threatening other guys, everyone who even looked at me, he would threaten, sometimes he would even have a knife. It scared me, he scared me, so I broke up with him. A few weeks after we broke up, I realized that he was stalking me, following me everywhere. One night he broke into my house and tried to kill me by strangling me,¨ I could feel tears in my eyes so I stoped for a minute. Ben didn't say anything yet.

I took a deep breath and continued, ¨When I went to the police they didn't belive me, I used to go to them about my parents and they thought I was crazy and needed to be taught a lesson. They said even if I was telling the truth, I had no evidence to back up my story. A few weeks later Henry left town and I haven't seen him since. Well until yesterday¨

Ben quickly turned to face me with a look of concern on his face, ¨What do you mean until yesterday? You saw him yesterday?¨ 

¨Yeah, he was walking outside around my neiborhood¨

¨Sarah, this man is not safe, you can't go back home¨

¨I have to, I would only get in trouble by my parents if I didn't come home¨

¨Okay, but call me when you get home and when you wake up¨

¨I will, I promise,¨ I assured him as we both got up. 

It was getting late so Ben walked me to my car and we said goodnight. When I got home I called Ben and told him I got home safely, I rolled into bed, and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Ben picked me up from my house and drove me to school. I was completely fine, I hadn't seen Henry for two days now. He probably has changed, who knows. 

¨Ben, I love the whole protective boyfriend thing, but isn't this a bit much? I mean I have my own car and can drive,¨ I say with a laugh. 

¨Wait, say that again,¨ Ben says.

¨I have my own car and can drive?¨

¨No the other thing¨

¨Its a bit much?¨

¨No, the other thing¨

¨Youre a protective boyfriend?¨ I asked and Ben smiled. Oh, I said boyfriend. We never really labeled what we are.

¨Sorry, I know we didn't label or anything,¨ I apologized.

¨Sarah, I would love to be your boyfriend,¨ Ben said as he layed his hand on my leg.

¨And I would love to be your girlfriend¨

When we got to school there were tons of people in the parking lot, including Kade. I would assume that he knew Ben and I were together now but if not, Ben driving me to school would definitely make him realize it. Before I could open my own door Ben ran over to my side and held it open for me. I step out and he closed the door, we goofily smiled at each other for a second then Ben gently grabbed my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. 

¨Ben Williams, you make me the happiest girl alive,¨ I told him as he held me close to him.

¨Sarah Griffin, you make me the happiest man alive,¨ He said as he took my hand and we walked through the parking lot together.