I hadn't revealed much to Cara and I didn't intend to.
I knew she was desperate to find out, but it hurt too much to think about.
Fortunately, she understood that whatever I was facing was something I wanted to keep private.
For the next hour, we spoke about ourselves - our similarities, our differences.
I did tell her that I wasn't going to university, which she didn't look too far into. I didn't tell her I'd been to college for only five months.
***
As time passed, my mood visibly lifted, and I was no longer as apprehensive as I was before about what was to come.
Cara had insisted on helping me find a job and was planning on asking her dad to let me stay in her room.
I felt so, so fortunate, and even more grateful for this...friend I'd found.
Of course, we were more of acquaintances than friends, but I liked her, and I firmly believed she was an angel on earth for helping me.
"Thank you, Cara." I croaked as I removed my coat and put it on the back of a chair in her room.
She was showing me around her bedroom, which was in the hotel itself. It was actually a huge suite, decked out with a TV, fridge, small kitchen, bathroom and balcony.
Cara was such a lovely girl; I could picture myself being friends with her in the future, even if I wasn't going to stay at the hotel, I was sure she'd try to keep in touch.
Cara stared at me, her eyes big in her small face.
"What is it?" I asked her, my anxiety making an appearance. She looked so shocked and I realised her gaze was on my arms.
"What did you do?" She whispered, looking at the bruises and scars on my arms in horror.
I tried to cross my arms but Cara had already seen everything. Surely we wouldn't be friends after this - she was looking at me as if I was an alien.
"Cara, it's nothing for you to worry about. All I ask of you is friendship, nothing else. Please." My eyes began to water as she took a step towards me.
I stepped back and held my hands up to stop her from coming closer.
"Olivia, I'm giving you friendship, but friendship relies on trust and truth. You know about me, why can't I know about you? Why are you so...damaged? Look at yourself Olivia! You have so many bruises...I know you haven't done this yourself."
She cocked her head to one side and analysed me. "How did your mum die, Olivia?"
I shook my head and picked up my coat. "I told you, I just want my privacy. Why can't you understand?" My voice was icy - Cara was prying too far. She was going to find out everything I was determined to hide, and I hated it.
"And your dad...he's not visiting family, is he?" She stepped closer, and this time I was frozen, unable to move.
I shook my head slowly and it was as if she had fitted all the clues together.
She looked at me and this time I didn't look away, confounded by all the emotions I was experiencing: fear, worry, pain, anguish.
"Did your dad do this to you, Olivia?"
My answering cry was affirmation of her question.
***
Cara hugged me, and at first I froze, scared.
It had been years since I was hugged and I hated it, being unable to hug back.
I was frightened, overwhelmed by everything.
