continuum ; s. minter

34.

!josh¡

now i understand

i understand why she's still weary of simon

seeing how much her dad has affected her

listening to her tell me that she's scared

terrified actually

the pain that her dad has caused her

she said, "i'm still afraid that a gentle touch will hurt me, even though i know it's you."

and simon was her gentle touch

the thing that her father never was

but when he hit her

she could feel all those memories return to her

all those things that she didn't want to remember but was forced to anyways

it's part of who she is

and i've learned to love her in ways that i could not before because i didn't know as much as i do now

i love her because she's a breath of fresh air and i love to make her laugh

her soft supple skin comparing to that of my own skin

i cannot love her because she is different

but i love her because she is herself

and as i stand out here in front of her father, away from the beautiful girl trembling in her bedroom i have to tell him off.

"hello um- odette's father. i'm josh, your daughters friend and i apologise but i must ask you to leave."

he looks at me strangely before narrowing his eyes a little.

"where's my daughter?"

"sir, she doesn't wish to speak you...at least not right now."

"i am her father of course she does!" he protests as i block the hallway entrance.

"but, a father would love their children...and that is something you did not do. so on her behalf i must object that you are anything but a father to that amazing girl that frankly i don't think either of us deserve."

and with that he turned around and left, storming out with a slam of the door.

i lightly opened the door to odette's room, seeing her sat atop her bed.

tear stained face

frail hands gripping the bed sheets harder than i thought possible.

her pink lips spewing strings of words that didn't make sense.

"oddie?" i say as she jumps at the sound of my voice. "he's gone."

"stay with me, please."

her lips quiver and her breathing is irregular.

i couldn't dream of leaving her

"of course, my love."