The Runaway

Weak Knees - Part 20

ARA:

Behind the bruises and cuts on his face, I see the love in his eyes, and then he gives me a smile that makes my knees weak. After all this time he'd been away, he still loved me!  It felt unreal. With my heart thundering wildly in my chest, I wondered if I was dreaming. 

"I missed you so much! What happened?" I ran to him, and buried my face in his neck, wrapping my arms around him.

Every noise on the busy street was blocked out, except the sound of his voice telling me, "I love you, Ara!" He held me tight and started to cry. "I was so scared. I thought I would never see you again."  

I felt weak in his arms.  I was so sick of crying, yet I couldn't stop.

"Ara, he took me again ...

the same monster," he said slowly as if the words themselves were painful. 

"Yet, I can surprisingly say, it was not my worst nightmare, because this time when I got away, the police believed me.  This time, I had someone to share my pain and, at the same time, I tried to protect them," he paused to wipe his eyes.  "They arrested him.  He can't hurt anybody else again."

"I'm so sorry you had to endure that. I can't imagine what you must have gone through. It must hurt so much! It amazes me how strong you are."

"They wanted me to stay in the mental health place, but I can't do that again. I wanted to come home to you. If they take me back there, I will go crazy." 

He looked in my eyes with such torment as if it would be worse than being a prisoner. "Please, don't let them!"  

His whole body was shaking and I thought he was going to faint. "I understand. I won't let them take you. I love you so much! I won't let you go! Let's get you home."

Yoongi wiped his tears, "yes, let's go."

All I wanted was to spend time alone with him holding him close and never letting go. I wanted to make him feel loved and sane. To hold him and take away his pain. He deserved to be cherished not used.

We got to the house, but Yoongi didn't want to go in yet. He didn't want to explain to my mom what had happened. Not yet anyway. It was just too much, and he just wanted to be comforted and loved.

"Let's go to the rooftop," he said, "I want to see the stars. I want to feel free."

Yoongi POV:

We laid down on the rooftop, looking up at the sky, side by side holding hands. Only the brightest stars were visible, in the large expanse of deep blue, so big and inviting it welcomed me home. I beamed looking up. Before I knew it, I found myself remembering the first day I came to this home, and met this wonderful family. I went from the cold pavement to a warm bed. I couldn't believe my luck. At school, her friends became my friends, all except Jay, of course. Before I knew it, I'd been spending the afternoons with new friends, walking home with laughter around me, and riding our bicycles to the theater where we worked.

I ran away from my tormented mind to loving arms.

This reminded me of the times we had escaped to the rooftop to watch the stars, finding ourselves and talking past midnight. She understood me and didn't judge. I loved every minute of it. And as easily as that, I had found myself falling in love.  A fresh wave of longing crashed over me. I looked in her eyes and saw that love mirrored in hers.

"Baby, I've been waiting a long, long time to be with you. I don't want to wait any longer," I murmured against her lips. "Every love song I heard reminded me of you and I couldn't wait to get back to you. The agonizing ache I had in my heart was because I was afraid I would never see you again. I knew you were the girl I was meant to be with, and the only one that could heal me again."

"Your words make me happier than I have ever been," she said as she leads me back inside.

We entered quietly not to wake her mom that had fallen asleep on the living room futon.

Ara pulled my hand as if she was afraid to let me go. Quietly, we took the stairs and, in the privacy of her room, started to kiss. 

"I couldn't stand to be away from you. I love you so much," she said planting kisses along my jaw.

"I feel better, but I want to shower before we go to sleep." Unfortunately, I felt dirty and scarred, and I don't feel I deserve to be with an innocent like Ara.  But I know she loves me and has suffered so much, that we both need each other to heal.

"Let's shower together," she said tantalizing me with a sultry look.  She is so cute and sexy, it just drives me crazy.

Ara started undressing him pulling his pants down over his slim hips as she shivered with desire for him. 

Her pov:

We stepped into the shower, and I leaned forward to rest my body on his. As the water soothed us, he caressed my neck sweetly.  He leaned down and kissed my lips, slowly closing his eyes. 

He poured the soap on his hands and lathered my body, gently touching me with his hands, like I was the most important thing to him.  The love I felt was indescribable. I felt alive again, and his words surprised me with their emotion, "I wanted to live for you, now I want to live for us."