Always & Forever - Janthony (discontinued)

Chapter 12: Grocery Shopping

t/w

Body-shaming & self harm.

~A week later~

Anthony's POV:

I woke up to the sound of the shower running, and soft cries coming from the bathroom. Jazzy's side of the bed that she slept on was empty, with the covers folded over. Her unlocked phone was lying on the bed, thrown on the pillow. I looked around the room to see if Jas was anywhere, knowing that she was in the bathroom, then I picked up the device lying on my left and stared at the screen.

My eyes widened when I saw what it said.

Who the fuck would say that to her. She's so beautiful and amazing, how could anyone say those things to her?

Placing the phone back down, I walk over to the bathroom door and gently knock, putting my ear up against the door. "Jas, are you okay?" I asked, suddenly hearing the water stop running.

"A-Anthony?"

"Yeah baby, it's me. Are you okay?"

"U-um... no..." she told me, trying to hold in her tears. It kills me to hear that. I love her, and I don't want her to feel like that.

"Can I come in?" I asked, softening my voice. The door opened slowly, showing Jasmine standing there, tears streaming down her face, her body wrapped in a white towel.

"Anthony-" she was cut off by my hug, tears beginning to form in my eyes seeing her like that.

"Sh, I know, I know." I comforted her, rubbing her back with my hand. I could feel her tears seep into my white shirt. We break the hug, causing her towel to fall to the floor. I made sure to look her in the eyes and not anywhere else because one, I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable just in case, and two, I wanted her to know that what I was saying was genuine.

"Jasmine Cephas-Jones," I told her, grabbing her hands and looking her in the eyes as she looked down at her bare body.

"You are the most beautiful girl that I've ever seen, and don't let what anyone else says let you think differently." I look down at her hands, bringing them up to my lips, pressing a kiss to them. As I slowly bring her hands back down, I notice the fresh scars on her wrist.

"Jas..." Tears begin to meet the brim of my eyes as I hear Jasmine start to sniffle and hold in her tears. It doesn't work for either of us, as she begins to break down crying, repeatedly apologizing and blaming herself as she wraps the towel back around her, sliding down the wall, sitting on the bathroom floor.

I stand there for a second, still shocked at the events that have just occurred. Eventually, after a few seconds, I sat down next to her. We both stare straight ahead of us until I gently reach over and grab her hands, pulling them into my lap. I flip her arms over, the barcode marks facing up and bring them up to my lips, marking each and every scar with a kiss. Once I made sure to kiss each and every single line, I locked my lips with hers.

"I love you so much Jas. You are the most gorgeous girl that I've ever laid my eyes on." Tears rolled down both of our eyes as the words spilled out of my mouth. She kissed my lips, laying her head on my shoulder.

"I love you so much too Anthony. You are everything to me. I-I don't know why I did it... I just hated myself so much and I-I just... I couldn't handle it anymore..." the girl I held stuttered to me.

"You want me to start a bath for you baby?" She nodded. I started to stand up until Jazzy pulled on my arm.

"For us, actually." I smiled down at her as she blushed a light pink. I started the bath for us as Jazzy got our clothes ready. We sat in the bath together, silent. I held her close to me, simply enjoying each other's company.