Invisible String

The art of trusting

Jules taps him on the back. "Anything for you pal."

"You really did have to make this corny didn't you." Jules laughs and Matt stands up "I'm going to the restroom." He points at Jules "And never call me that again." Jules smiles, because she can see it, the euphoria glinting in his eyes.

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Days later, Jules is painting a landscape portrait when she hears the house phone ring. It drones on a few times signalling no one is picking it up, Jules huffs jumping off her bed to pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"Matt?"

"Jules I... Umm" she could hear his breathing over the line, uneven and panicky.

"Matt...What's going on? You okay?" A few heartbeats of silence and then "Jules...I did something...Something really bad." His voice breaks.

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Hold on, I'm coming." Jules places the phone back in the holder, her heart racing. "Honey who was that?" Jules's mom saunters into the room "It was Lacey, she was wondering if I could go round for a bit." Lacey was a girl in her class (who lived a block away) she didn't really care for her, but their moms where friends so ultimately their parents did that illogical thing where they expected them to be friends too. Jules's mom and dad where not very open-minded people. They were "Normal" and tried to live up best to that standard, whatever that was. Jules knew her mom would protest if she said she was going to see Matt as she was weary about their friendship and "Jules darling why don't you hang out with other girls and not that quiet blind boy." Jules argued against it, so her mom just let the matter drop, knowing of her daughters unchanging stubbornness at times.

"Of course, but only for an hour or two."

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Jules stands outside Matt's apartment in Hells kitchen, she reaches to knock but notices the door is slightly ajar. Huh, that's weird. Nevertheless, she pushes the door open and makes her way through. It's silent and there doesn't seem to be anybody around. "Matt!" then again, "Matt!"

"In here" she hears a hoarse whisper. Jules turns the handle to a door on her right. "Matty?"

"Jules?" she notices the closet in the far right, she briskly walks over and opens the doors. Revealing an inconsolable Matthew Murdock curled inwards into a ball. Sobbing. The first things that catches her eye are his knuckles, bruised and bloody.
"Matt omg! What happened!" she crouches down beside her friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jules breathes evenly trying to stay calm. Matt rubs his eyes. "I tried to stay calm I did... But..." He balls his fists "He told me that I was useless, that he's glad my dad isn't around to see how I'm turning out, that was just the last straw y'know?" Jules nods. "So, when he was watching TV I took a lamp, snuck up behind him and..." Matt swallows "I. Hit. Him." The tears stream down his face "Over and over. Then I started punching him and I I just couldn't stop, it's like I had the devil in me or something I don't know." Matt breaths in a shaky breath. "Estelle rushed in the room as soon as she heard the noise, she took him to the ER in a hurry, I'm definitely gonna be moved again, probably to somewhere worse." Matt rocks himself against the closet walls. "And do you know what the worst part about all of this is? I liked it, I loved it actually." Matt laughs bitterly "That just sounds so shitty, saying it out loud." He struggles to meet Jules's eye.

Play "Stand by me" by Ben. E King.

Jules sighs and thinks for a few seconds. The weight of the situation dawning on her. How In this moment her best friend was battling with two sides of himself. It frightened her. The vastness of it. That his reality was completely different to hers. That he was given the short end of the stick, he'd lost his dad, his home, and now was in this situation. He punched a guy senseless. But it's Matt and she knew his heart and that it was probably gnawing away at him. "Matt... I don't think you're shitty. You're not a monster either, that guy...He treated you so badly."

"My dad would be disappointed; he wouldn't have wanted me to solve it that way."

"Maybe he wouldn't of but sometimes you're stuck in the moment and you make a decision. Matt, I think your dad would be proud you stuck up for yourself at least. I know I am."

"Not everything is gonna go your way, but you have to kinda create your own path and find your own way to solve things."

"I know its not the best and violence isn't great but sometimes you need that darkness Matty. I know that sound weird but...But It's as much a part of you as the shiny bits. I know you try to be, but you're not perfect Murdock." Jules nudges Matt.
"It's me and you Murdock, against the world, against all these assholes. I'm gonna have your back, and I know you would do the same for me." Matt smiles weakly "When did you get so wise." Jules snorts "Ahh I don't know, maybe around the time I met you." Jules places her upright palm against his and leans her forehead to his.

"Do you trust me?"

Matt nods slowly.

"I trust you Jules. I trust you."