Drowning

Chapter 42:"hey, look at me."

Leah's POV

I wake up with a smile on my face. My smile grows as I recall what happened last night. I can still feel Noah's hands on me, feeling every inch of my body. My face is currently placed on his soft chest as I feel his steady breathing.

Last night was amazing. It never felt so good and so... right. Last night truly showed me how much he really loves me. And I hope it also shows how much I love him.

I look up at Noah's sleeping face and my smile only grows. He looks so peaceful and innocent, not like he normally is. I look down at his stomach that is not covered with the sheet. My hand involuntarily reaches toward the warm skin of his abs. I trace the fine lines of his tattoo. It is the amazing detail that makes this tattoo so beautiful. My finger trails from one eye to the other. When my finger is inches away from Noah's bellybutton he takes a sharp intake of breath and jumps a little. This startles me and I sit up very quickly as I grasp the sheet to cover myself. I turn my head toward Noah, who is awake by now, looking at him with confusion.

Noah looks at me with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Sorry." Is all that he says.

With furrowed eyebrows, I ask;" Why did you pull away? Did I hurt you?"

"No, no, you didn't." Noah says reassuringly, sitting up a little.

I stay silent just staring at him.

Before I could utter a word Noah's voice cuts me off.

"Do you remember when I told you about my kidnappers? Well, I didn't tell you all the things they did to me. And I jumped when your finger started tracing a scar that they left on my stomach."

I'm silent for a few seconds taking in every word he said and trying to wrap my head around them.

What the FUCK?!

Oh my god, I can't believe that happened to him... and when he was only 5 years old. That is something no 5 year old should go through. No, scratch that, no person should have to go through something so horrible.

I know that he has told me his story before but still. I cannot get the images out of my head. I cannot imagine  what he had gone through. My heart physically hurts thinking about it.

A tear leaves my eye as I think about what happened to him. Noah reaches up and wipes the tear away from my eye with a small smile on his face.

"I'm okay, Sailor." Noah says trying to reassure me with his hand on my cheek.

I place my hand over his on my face as I close my teary eyes.

"I know but still, the fact that you had to go through all that. It breaks my heart." I say trying so hard not to let my voice break.

"Hey, hey, look at me." Noah says now sitting fully. He places both of his hands on my face making me look at him.

"I am okay. What happened to me made me the person I am today. And I would like to think that I'm a very good person." Noah's last sentence draws a small chuckle from me.

Noah smiles at my chuckle before continuing.

"The kidnappers were caught luckily. So all three of them are rotting in jail as we speak."

I sigh closing my eyes once again.

"Good." I whisper finally opening my eyes again.

Noah smiles back at me before giving me a small gentle kiss on my lips.