Emilia and Charles, two best friends in their early childhood. They go everywhere together, do everything with each other. So when Emi has to move all the way to Spain to be closer to her mother's side of the family, they are devestated. And with no...
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"Hey, Em", Charles called as he entered the apartment. He kept his voice soft when he looked into her bedroom and saw her cuddled up under the blankets. Even from far away, he could see the black streaks of mascara running down her face. His heart dropped at the sight. What the hell had happen while he wasn't here. "How was your day?", he asked softly, sitting down on the bed beside her.
She flicked her glance up to him, but only for a moment, and then returned it to the blank space in front of her.
"I broke up with Harvey, just like you said I should", she said. When she spoke, it sounded like the life had been drained out of her. There was none of the usual happier tone she used, it was like her normal self had been sucked away from her body.
"What? What do you mean?", Charles asked again.
"I met with him in Bologna. I broke up with him", she repeated. Her eyes were blank, none of the shine or personality peeking out from behind them. One of Charles' favourite things about her was gone at that moment, off with the rest of her normal self.
Charles couldn't believe what he was hearing. She had broken up with Harvey. She had gone to see him. And all by herself. How long had she been in here like this, all of her emotion sucked out of her. It made Charles feel so guilty.
"Emi, hey. It's ok", he tried, reaching out to grab her hand. A stab of guilt overwhelmed him when she flinched violently at his small touch. He withdrew his hand away and rested it beside him. Why was she acting like this? It wasn't like her.
Then, he saw her lip quiver and a hint of sadness wash over her eyes. Charles saw a small tear rush down her cheek and soak into the pillow she lay on. He laid down next to her then, afraid his touch would make her flinch again and not wanting to say anything.
A moment passed in silence, tears continuing to fall down her cheeks and soaking to the pillow. "Charles. I loved him. And he hurt me. Physically hurt me", she whispered, her voice wavering. Charles kept quiet as he listened to her and watched her shoulders lightly shake as she cried. "Why did he do this to me. I trusted him and he ruined me. I should have seen it coming the first time he did it", she kept saying.
"Emi, when did he first hurt you?", Charles asked, his voice soft. He heard a breath of hesitation before she said anything.
"December last year. After we got home from Mama's birthday party. He hit me", she replied.
Charles' heart fully sunk now. This had been going on for eight months. Eight months too long for anyone to endure that kind of thing. A great need to protect her overcame him in that moment. Why her? Why had this happened to her? What had she ever done? She didn't deserve one bit of it.
"How about I take you out for dinner? To forget for a while, ok?", Charles asked. Finally, Emi glance up at him for the first time since he came into the room. Charles slowly started to pull the covers away, encouraging her until she finally nodded her head. He helped her up and soon, she was having a shower and getting ready.
