Page 48 of Come Back to Me

Me

My bedroom. I’m begging you to not come in here. Please just wait for me outside somewhere. I’ll be out in a minute

Grayson

What’s wrong?

Me

Please don’t come in here

Grayson

Hold on tight. I’m coming

My bedroom door swings open before it closes. Grayson’s voice travels into the bathroom. “Violet!”

“I told you to not come in here.”

He sees me on the bathroom floor and rushes over to me, sitting in front of me. He places his hands on my knees. “What happened?”

My glassy eyes meet his face, but my hands are covering my cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Violet, please tell me what happened.” He moves my hands away from my cheeks to reveal the bruise my mother left from hitting me. He has a disgusted look written all over his face. “Who did this to you?”

“I-it…” I trail off.

“If Blake did this to you, I’ll go beat his ass right now.”

“No, it wasn’t Blake.” I gulp deep, almost choking on the lump going down my throat. “It was…my mother.”

“Georgia hurt you?!”

“All because I talked back to her.” I roll my eyes before tears begin to stream down my face.

“Tell me exactly what happened.”

“S-she told me my dress was t-too shiny and tight. I told her I’m wearing it because I b-bought it with my own money. I told her I’m tired of her constantly wanting me to be like her because I’m n-not her, and I never will be. She doesn’t stop. It n-never stops. I’m so tired of her telling me I’m not pretty enough. I’m tired of her wanting me to be perfect. I hate it, and I hate her.”

He moves over to be in closer proximity to me.

I bend my knees, bringing my legs up to my chest. My arms are folded on top of my knees, and I bury my head in them.

He gently rubs my back to comfort me. Putting the pad of his thumb underneath my chin and his index finger on the lower part of it, he turns my head towards him. “Look at me.”

Once I meet his gaze, it’s over. I’m lost in his dark brown eyes, and I fear I’ll never find my way back to reality.

“Do you remember what I told you when we first met?” He interweaves his hand into mine, rubbing small circles on my thumb with his.

Shaking my head, my mouth shifts slightly to one side of my face.

“I told you you’re one of a kind because violet isn’t a common color in nature. We’re told to fit in and blend in with the crowd. You weren’t made to fit in or blend in with the crowd. You were born to stand out. In a crowded room full of people, you'd be the first person I’d notice. Do you know why?”

“N-no.” Tears continue to stream out of my eyes like a steady, flowing river.

“You have these piercing blue eyes that make me fall in love with you all over again. You have golden hair that reminds of the sun when it shines brightly on a summer day. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Whoever tells you you’re not deserves a good ass-kicking.”

I laugh with my mouth closed, hiccuping repeatedly.