Paint You Wings

Thirty

My head throbs. It hurts to breathe, and I can't remember where I am. I take shallow breaths, trying not to freak out.

I hear muffled voices like they're in the next room. I try to sit up, but the pain in my hip makes it impossible for me to reposition myself. My throat feels so swollen. I can't make any noises. I lift my hand to my throat slowly. I feel where it is slightly swollen, and I know there are bruises. Everything comes rushing back to me. The alley with Richard. His hand around my throat. Being held by those men. Having Richard touch me. Aaron being beaten. Falling to the ground, busting my hip. Hitting my head. My dad carrying me away. Passing out.

Then, waking up here. But where is here? I hear a click, and then a squeak. The sound a door makes when it opens. A dim light fills the room. Footsteps near me. I begin to panic, fearing it's Richard.

My breathing gets heavy, and my throat hurts more with every wheeze.

"Belle?"

I still. It isn't Richard. My heart begins beating at a normal pace. Aaron's hand wraps around mine. I squeeze my eyes shut as a tear escapes. He's okay.

Aaron's okay. He puts his forehead on mine. "Thank god you're okay. We've been so worried."

"Are you okay?" Each word makes my throat throb, but I don't care.

"I'm fine. You shouldn't talk though. It'll hurt your throat more." He plants a kiss on my forehead. "You're at your dads. If you're wondering. Our apartment isn't safe. I mean... here isn't best either, but it's better than there."

I nod, gripping his hand as tight as I can with such little energy.

"Are you hungry?"

I shake my head no. Which is true. I'm not. I just really want him to hold me. I need to know what happened to Richard, and what happened after I passed out. I lift my arms carefully and put them around his neck. Pulling me up with him, we sit on my bed and hug. His cologne makes me feel so much better. I find myself crying - bawling, actually. I begin to sob and Aaron just continuously strokes my back.

When the tears have stopped falling, Aaron places his lips to my ear. "He's locked away, Belle. He isn't going to bug us anymore."

The words bring a smile to my face. With all the energy I have, I capture Aaron's lips with mine. I feel him smile against the kiss and his embrace tightens. When we pull away, Aaron stands up.

"I'm going to go tell your dad you're awake."

I nod slowly, and lean against my headboard.

Regardless of Richard being behind bars, the fear is still settled in the pit of my stomach. What happens when he gets out? What about all the men that worked for him? How are we truly safe? When will we truly ever be safe?

I throw my thoughts to the back of my head as my dad walks into the room.

He sits on my bed. The movement of my mattress sends pain shooting through my hip, but I can't lay down anymore.

My dad hesitates, but then pulls me into an embrace.

"Thank you." I whisper.

He hugs me tightly. "I love you, Annabelle."

"I love you too, dad."

***

The smile on his face was full of pure happiness, and even though I was crying, I was happy too. I was happy in my white dress; I was happy with my happily ever after.

With him.

Aaron.

His touch sends tingles through my whole body as he takes my left hand and slides a ring onto it.

"I, Aaron Dawson, take you, Annabelle Smith, as my bride."

I smile from ear to ear. Since everything we've gone through just to be able to say those words. I stare into his icy blue eyes and repeat the vow.

My stomach erupts in butterflies as he pulls me close to him and captures my lips with his. It's the first kiss in a while that doesn't have the feeling of fear following after it, caused by the thought of losing the other. It's the first kiss in a while where the only intent is kissing, even if it's probably the hottest and most amazing kiss ever.

Coming from someone who never thought they'd actually get married, the feeling is amazing. To feel loved. To feel wanted. To feel... full.

We face the crowd together. As a married couple. We're no longer those sex-crazed teenagers. Now comes the house payments and a career and kids and a life.

Now comes happiness.

No more Richard - he got life in jail without bail. As for my father and Cleo, they're working things out. Mel is slowly coming around. Trying to make thing better now that she knows I didn't kill Alice.

The death of Alice will never be forgotten, but it also shall not be dwelled on. Same for my mother. Although I didn't have much time for mourning, I've realized I don't need it. My mom was long gone before she killed herself, and although I'll miss her everyday, I know she did it to make herself happy.

My scars have faded significantly, and I'm not ashamed of those that are still sort of noticeable. I went through a hard time, and nobody goes through a battle without battle wounds. I will no longer harm myself or try to kill myself. I will get better. For the sake of Aaron. For the sake of my future children. Whether they're biological, or adopted, I will let them know it's okay to be sad. It's okay to have emotions. It is not okay to let them go unnoticed and unaccounted for. Always get help. I will make sure my kids will not get themselves into the same rut I did. They will not feel depressed. They will not have an MIA father or a depressed and high out of her mind mother. They will not have a crazed stalker that kills their stepsister and then tries to rape them.

They will have struggles, but we will overcome them.

I smile at people as we walk back down the isle. I nod at family I haven't seen in at least ten years. I meet eyes with Aaron's family, even though they still do not like me.

Aaron's hand is tight in mine, and that is all that matters.

a/n sorry it's short! It's a wrap up chapter though! If you have any questions about anything I missed, you can comment and I might make another chapter to answer the questions, otherwise I'll just comment back. I don't know. We'll see! Thanks for following me through the journey of my second book! I'm so happy that Regrets has gotten 1.9k reads! Ahh! and this one has reached 1.1k! You guys make me want to continue writing, which I will! If you haven't already, make sure to check out my new story The Hit-Man's Arranged Marriage! I've got four parts posted already. Thank you guys again! xx