Chapter 58: Impulsive Confession
Natalie~
The moment my eyes locked onto the girl I had just crashed into, my breath hitched in my throat. She was adorable, almost like something out of a fairytale, with wild curly hair that framed her delicate face. Her big, doe-like eyes were a stunning shade of emerald green, wide with surprise and fear. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, giving her an innocent, youthful charm, and she wore a cute pink blush that made her look even more endearing.
But my admiration quickly turned into horror when I noticed the dark bruises marring the soft skin around her eyes. The large, dark sunglasses she had been wearing now lay on the pavement beside her, revealing the ugly purple and black bruises that hinted at a violent past. Someone had hurt her. Badly.
"I am so, so sorry!" I gasped, immediately crouching to gather the scattered contents of our bags. She scrambled to find her glasses first, quickly slipping them back on as if to hide the evidence of whatever pain she was going through. Then, without a word, she began stuffing things back into her bag.
Her bag contained a mix of items—bandages, makeup, a small pocket knife, a cute wallet, a few books, and some loose papers. My heart clenched. I knew the signs of someone trying to survive, someone patching up their own wounds. I had lived it.
Once our bags were packed, she made to leave in a hurry, but I reached out and gently grabbed her arm. "Wait," I said, my voice soft but urgent. "Are you okay? Do you need help?"
She flinched at my touch, though I had barely applied any pressure. Her head shook quickly, her voice barely a whisper. "I’m fine. Don’t worry about it."
I didn’t believe her. Not for a second. I had seen that look in the mirror too many times. Desperation. Fear. The desire to disappear.
I tightened my hold slightly, my eyes pleading. "Please—"
She yanked her arm free, though not harshly, and looked at me with something akin to sadness. Then, in a soft, accented voice, she murmured, "Ne t’inquiète pas pour moi et fais attention la prochaine fois."
My French was rusty, but I understood enough. "Don’t worry about me. Watch where you’re going next time."