Three's Company

50. Dry Your Eyes

How could she begin to fathom everything?

Her entire being ached for him, it was like his pain was hers. She couldn't stop looking at him, the severity of his truth hitting hard.

"Your aunt." Mona found herself saying, searching his face with her frantic eyes. "A-Aunt Cece? Heath, are you talking about your mother's sister? The one who we used to see every year on thanksgiving?"

It hurt to know that he had suffered like this. Hurt in a sort of undeniable way, like she couldn't shut it out, it was always there.

She frowned, mentally cursing herself.

Why the hell was she saying she couldn't shut it out? She couldn't even imagine how he had been all of his life.

She looked up at him, his eyes downcast, like he was ashamed to look at her.

With a brave hand, her hand reached up and she felt her stomach tingle with all sorts of emotion.

She studied his soft features with furrowed eyebrows, catching every detail in the palm of her hand. The palm lines show their story.

He had wanted to get it out and refuse to show weakness, this wasn't supposed to a sensitive subject for him – nothing was supposed to be sensitive for him. He didn't say anything but his hesitation was enough confirmation for her.

"I knew you had an issue with touch but I would never have thought it was because of that. Heath, look at me..." At the mention of his name, he forced himself to look at her and his jaw went slick. "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

Her dainty fingers brushed his cheeks away and suddenly, he felt pathetic again.

"I should be wiping your tears away." His husky voice came to be a low murmur on his lips. "It's not a big deal. I don't know why I'm fixated on something that happened ages ago."

She frowned again, "Don't say that, it is a big deal. Your suffering is a big deal, seeing you hurt will always be a big deal to me."

He knew she was speaking from her heart and that made it harder for him.

"I know, hayati. But I was simply telling you that sex is complicated for me, I don't want you to think I attach myself to something as meaningless as sexual intimacy."

She pursed her lips in thinking, moving her hand away yet still standing directly in front of him. He towered over her by a lot of inches, and she was left to look up at him.

"I understand now." Mona didn't want to seem like she was being inconsiderate, though to say it in case he needed to hear it. "But don't you think seeing a professional about this would be wise? I don't want you to take this the wrong way. Trust me, I care and I want to listen but I'm afraid I can't give you the correct resources to help you. I don't want to mess up on something so personal and raw."

Instantly, the first glimpse of a smile lifted onto the corners of his handsome face, she heard his throaty chuckle.

It was full hearted and he brought a hand up to rub his jaw. "You're cute, Mo."

She gave him a look. "Cute?"

He nodded as if his random compliment was nothing out of the ordinary. "Yeah, really fucking cute. I should've probably told you sooner but I've been in therapy for this shit since I was about ten."

"You have?"

Suddenly she was finding so much about, things she would assume she should already know.

"You remember Mary and her husband." He said, watching her face morph into slow realisation. "Well, Mar's my therapist, or should I say, was."