Teach Me [COMPLETED✔]

31

Chris

I watched as Aspen walked across the stage, shaking hands with the principal before turning for the photographer. Her lips pulled into a smile, eyes bright as she started ahead of her. A second and she was walking to the others, shaking hands and smiling. Hair swaying as she made her way down the small ramp, following the path many before her had taken, back to her seat.

I was proud. So damn proud of her.

Aspen turned as if noticing my stare because really let's be honest, I stared at her a lot. Why wouldn't I? I love her.

Pink lips tugged up once more, showing me a flash of her teeth as she held up her diploma for me. She was far, too much for my liking but at least I had a clear view of her. Of who she sat besides her, who touched her, who looked at her. Really, I was watching her like a hawk but not because I was controlling but because I didn't want anyone hurting her.

I smiled at her, her lips tugging up even more as she shook her head. Turning around, her black hair fell over her shoulder, yet I could still see her smile. See the straightness of her nose, the fullness of her cheeks and roundness of her chin. She was damn cute.

The days had gone by in a blur, good and bad. That nightmare wasn't the last one, I knew because I dozed off on the couch for several nights. It pained to say the least, my fault, my stupid fucking fault.

Aspen had been in a Goddamned convent like school, she had been there with walls put around to stop men like Theo, to stop men like me from taking advantage of her. Now the difference was that Aspen gave me permission but not Theo. And it was on me for what she was going through, my own fault, one I would fix, or try to.

Reason why I got her into therapy, with work. I pushed her, I begged her to go. I needed her to be okay, to come to terms with all, for someone with an unbiased opinion to help her. For her to talk, to scream, to cry, to cry her heart out with everything.

I didn't even mean only the events with Theo but also before, with her mother, with her school, with me. Even if it meant revealing everything, if it meant me losing my years of work. Though I knew it didn't matter, not when she was of legal age and had complete control of her thoughts.

After a few sessions, she broke. I knew because I asked the woman dealing with Aspen. I didn't ask all, only the vaguest of information, the important information. Aspen was fine or so she said, she was dealing with it all. Knowing I was fine, knowing that she was fine helped a lot, knowing I was with her gave her a will to try harder. But if she wasn't, I'd still be with her, I'd be here to help her through it all.

We didn't stay far too long in the hotel, Aspen agreeing to go back after a little over a week. I had asked over and over if she was sure, there was no pressure if she wasn't ready. She could take as long as she wanted but in the end she had taken my hand and said she was sure. I was glad but I could still see the hesitation, the horror in her eyes everytime.

That's why I put the house on the market.

But she didn't know that. I'd buy us a new house, I'd move us if she wanted to. If she needed us to move but I really wish we didn't move, after all I had already built a life here. But if it came down to it, for her I was willing to start over.

With her dealing with school, I dealt with work. I had gone into my boss's office ready to deal with whatever I would be thrown at but ended up leaving with only a new idea for the hospital, for better efficiency. He didn't say anything of my relationship, or the rumors, didn't even ask if they were true, not that I would deny them.

I loved Aspen, even if she was half my age. But I was grateful that he didn't address it, not that they had to. It was irrelevant who I dated as long as it didn't interfere with my work, as long as I followed the hospital's guidelines, I would be fine.