To heal a broken heart

Chapter 23

~Holly's POV~

Once we arrive at Jayden's home he helps me with getting out of the car and before I can even start to walk he already scoops me up again, securely holding me in his arms. I start to protest again, but he just ignores me so I grow quiet after a few moments. Carrying me past the front door, I find myself in one of the guest rooms a bit later.

"I'm gonna get your stuff", he mumbles and leaves again after gently setting me down on the bed.

A few minutes later he got all of it inside the room and finally plopped down into the chair next to the window.

"So... Do you want to tell me, what exactly happened?", he asks after an awkwardly outstretched silence. I grimace, but he deserves a full explanation, so I think about where to start.

"They weren't always violent. It started like a week or two ago. I don't even know what caused it, they just like to hurt me, I guess", I have to hold back tears when I say that. "It started harmless with a slap here and there, but they quickly discovered that they like to make me suffer so the beatings got worse. Nick and Chelsea did it for years already, so I was used to the pain, but I still can't get over the fact that my own parents hate me... They always told me to lose weight and all that, but I wouldn't have thought they'd physically hurt me one day."

I try to suppress more tears, but my eyes seem to think otherwise, letting them roll down my cheeks freely, making some of the cuts burn from the salt. Jayden stares at me with a distraught expression, pain in his eyes evident.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through this", he eventually whispers, letting his eyes follow my tears. Once a sob leaves my mouth he suddenly groans. Not even two seconds later he's by my side, pulling me into another one of his soft hugs.

"I don't want to overwhelm you, but please let me sooth you, I can't just sit by and watch", he mumbles into my ears and I timidly nod against his hard chest. Another sob tears through my chest and he soothingly starts to caress my back, playing with my hair on the way.

"Shhh, just let it out. It's okay. Everything will be fine again, I promise. I won't let you get hurt again, little one", he whispers gently. I just listen to his tender words and cry my heart out. He holds me the whole time, never stopping in his caring actions, telling me it's alright to cry and that he's here for me.

Only after what feels like an eternity I feel my tears starting to slow down and my breathing becoming more even again. I don't want to let go, but since I already overstayed my welcome in his arms I carefully end our embrace by pulling back and scooting a few inches away from him. His eyes never leave me, watching me with remorse in them.

"Thank you", I whisper, my voice hoarse due to the cry session.

"No problem. I like you in my arms anyways", he smiles down at me, his old mischief returning. I blush a bit, which causes my bruises to throb painfully. I groan. Now I feel my ribs again as well. I forgot about them because of the adrenaline, I guess...

"Uhm... Can I go to a doctor? I think my ribs are broken", I ask reluctantly, not wanting to bother him even more. However, his eyes widen in shock and he instantly springs up.

"And you tell me that now?! Oh my god, Holly, you should've said something earlier!", he exclaims worriedly, immediately scooping me up in his arms again and carrying me down the stairs and out of the house again. I don't know how he did it, but he managed to open the passenger door of my car with one hand and gently put me down. A few moments later we're back on the road, racing to the hospital.

Arriving there, Jayden just carries me again, bringing me to the emergency room and dragging one of the nurses over to me. She tells us to wait for a few moments, giving us some papers I have to fill out and then we're left to do nothing.