er'

had done was

ss pressure from my father and stepmother. They had been pushing me to get mar

h to think straight. Too

pounding from the alcohol. I was confused, disoriented-unt

terrible h

motel manager, demanding to see the CCTV footage. I had

was. The unde

elf on a girl I

anything like that before. Even drunk, I had

estion, but even after it was gone, I found no peace. I couldn

ldn't sleep, couldn't focus on anythin

ake respo

cause I had to make things right. My father wanted me to settle down, and she... she had nothin

who treated her like a servant. A father w

her, I could help her. I could p

e, her hand bleeding because of me, I wasn't

ng the wound. My voice was quiet

a long moment, as if

she fin

es

. you won't h

said it, the way her voice w

eaning every word. "And I won't force

at felt like an eternity, she sighed. "I'll th

thing. A small crack in the wal

ll ha

o do the same and leave. Bu

pped her arms around my

s... I didn'

nd before I could stop myself, my arms

is feel...

Mabel, my girlfriend. But right now, as I held Mirabel in my

shaking, her b

I scooped her up

ter a moment, her expression softened, and

me in a long time, I

same time. Mirabel, the girl who had hated me just moments ago, was now leanin

ng her down. She looked up at me with wi

d, tucking a stray stran

. I pulled my hand back, sighing. "I know you don't trust me, and I do

ng up on the bed. "Then l

ened. "I can

ists on her lap. "Why?

d to protect y

offed, shaking her h

r. "From people who want to hurt you m

sion mixed with frustra

ow wouldn't change anything. She wouldn't believe

ight now," I said instead

laugh. "Trust you?

ck. "You should sleep

ave, but her v

her

around,

efore finally whispering, "Than

hed at how bro

nk me," I said softly.

I left the room, closi

presence lingered in my mind,