Tangled Love

CHAPTER 25

"Let me help you," he pleads, his hand stroking my cheek gently. I've never heard those four words from anyone in my entire life.

Let me help you.

I push Jake off gently and walk towards the door, locking it. My heart is beating so fast against my body, I can practically hear it booming through my ears. I inhale deeply, noticing Jake is watching me carefully, his eyes trained on my every move.

"Please don't judge me," I whisper quietly, my shaky voice barely filling the small room. Jake nods silently, his face completely emotionless. I have to tell him, tell someone. It's making me go crazy, my sanity slipping away every second. I don't eat anymore in fear and I definitely don't sleep. I'm plagued by nightmares of Trevor every single night, each one of them more terrifying than the last.

I squeeze my eyes shut and feel for the hem of my top. My fingers find the soft material and I clutch it tightly, pulling the fabric up to reveal the top half of my body. I feel cold air hit my bare skin and that's when I know there is no going back.

My secret and I are exposed.

I open my eyes, feeling the tears escape and slide down my cheek, fighting over one another. My hands are shaking uncontrollably and I let go, allowing it fall back down. Jake is stood opposite me, his eyes fixated on my body where my skin was exposed seconds ago. His eyes are completely emotionless but his jaw clenches tightly in anger. His hands ball up into tight fists by his sides and he appears to be rooted to the spot, frozen.

"My step-dad does this to me," I whisper, feeling the need to explain myself.

My secret is out.

I look down at my body, knowing what lies underneath the clothes and recoil away from it in disgust. Black and blue bruises cover my whole stomach. Scars run up and down my legs and arms from years of abuse and my wrists are a mess from what I've done to them. I lift my head and search Jake's eyes for some sort of reaction but he remains emotionless.

"Say something Jake," I urge him, fear settling inside my stomach as I couldn't make out his reaction. He pauses for a moment, blue eyes filling with a deep sadness —

"I think you're amazing Emily. Come here," he finally whispers, his eyes flickering up to meet mine. He walks towards me, arms outstretched and I exhale a deep sigh of relief.

"Do you think I'm ugly?" I ask vulnerably, my voice shaking with fear as I fall into his embrace. His warmth wraps around me tightly and I close my eyes, feeling safe. Jake rubs my back soothingly, his face nuzzling inside the crook of my neck. I know he's trying to comfort me but I feel butterflies fill my stomach from his loving actions.

"I think you're beautiful," he whispers, his arms closing around my body gently. . . Almost as if he's protecting me from the danger that lurks around me.