Stay

49

Picture of costume at top everyone elses costumes are the ones they wore in 2022

It was now 11:00pm and the Halloween party was in full swing. The house was packed and so was the yard. So I was using the cane Sam gave me. I was sitting bye the fire outside with Amber, Jake and Tara, Aryia, Nate, and Brennen. We were laughing and making jokes and having a really good time. I decided I wasn't going to drink tonight because I wasn't really in the mood.

I looked towards the house and saw Sam, Colby, Corey, Griffin, Reggie, and Kian all talking. Colby and I haven't talked since earlier. I think we both just needed sometime. I looked back to the group I was with.

Jake laughed so hard at something Brennen said that he spilled his white claw all over himself. "Ill get you some paper towels and no I don't need help." I said standing up. I walked over towards the house I was 3 feet away from the door when a drunk rowdy guy pushed me out of his way making me trip causing me to face plant knocking the wind out of me.

"OH SHIT MARISSA" I heard Kian yell. "MOVE MOVE MOVE. Sam yelled. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY." Colby yelled angrily. I sat up holding my face catching my breath. A few seconds later Sam and Colby were by my side. "Fuck are you ok" Colby Asked me "I'm fine." I said grabbing my cane and pulling myself up.

"Woah take it easy." Sam said. I pushed past them and the crowd of people and went inside and made my way to the bathroom in my room. I looked into the mirror and cringed my nose was fucked up and bloody. Not even a minute later Colby walked into my room shutting the door.

I grabbed some Kleenex and held them to my bleeding nose as Colby walked over and stood in the bathroom doorway. "You sure your ok." He said. I nodded "I'm sorry I hid from the guys when I was panicking. " I said as I threw away the Kleenex my nose no longer bleeding.

"And I'm sorry for yelling." He said walking over. He gently wrapped his arms around my waist looking down at me and into my eyes. "I would kiss you but you have blood on your face." He said and laughed.

I grabbed a Kleenex and wiped my face. "Better." I said. "Let me help you he said laughing a little. He lifted me up and sat me on the counter. He grabbed a wash cloth and wet it with warm water. He used his left hand and tilted my chin up holding my face still with his fingers under my chin and his thumb on top. He had the washcloth in the other and he started to softly wipe my face off.

He finished wiping the blood off my face and smiled before he leaned in and gave me a kiss. He tasted a like vodka. He pulled away and looked at me. "Ready to go back to the party." he asked me. "You go ahead I have to fix my makeup then I will join you." I said as he helped me off the counter. "Ok." He said before leaving my room.

I fixed my makeup for 5 minutes before walking to my dresser that's next to my door to grab a sweater cause it was getting cold. "Oh my god did you see what happened outside." I heard someone say. I looked through the door that was open a crack and saw 2 girls a blonde and a brunette standing between my door and the movie room talking.

"Oh god yeah that bitch falling on her face." the blonde said. "Colby deserves so much better than her. She is like a lost puppy that follows him around." The brunette added. "For real you can tell he tolerates her because he thinks she is hot I mean why else would he put up with her constant whining he was happier before her." The blonde said.

I quietly closed my door and stood there in tears. They were right I feel that way to. I sat down at my desk a started to write on a piece of paper. "Colby I love you but you deserve better. You deserve to be with someone who isn't broken and someone who isn't constantly breaking down. When we met I was hesitant because I didn't want you to have to deal with this. But I let you convince me that I wasn't broken and that I could be who you need. But I can't. My PTSD will always keep me broken and scared. By the time you read this I will have already left the house. I don't know where I'm going but It's gonna be somewhere I can no longer hurt you or disrupt your life. I'm leaving Astra with you because you bought her and she will be happier here. I wish I was who you think I am because I love you more than anything in this world. But love doesn't fix everything. I love you Cole Robert Brock. I'm Sorry - Marissa