My eyes water, tears threatening to spill. “No.”
Liam sighs, nodding. “Yes. They beat me up badly. It was four against one and I couldn’t defend myself. After a few minutes, I gave up and just let it happen. I was numb. I just wanted it over with so I could crawl back home and be in the comfort of my bed to sleep off that nightmare. I only screamed when one of the guys pulled out his pocket knife and dug it into my cheek. That’s where this comes from.” He brings my trembling hand to the scar on his cheek. It’s thin, white, and almost masked by his beard. “Eventually, a janitor heard the commotion and came to my rescue.” Liam exhales slowly. “By then, I had a swollen jaw, bruised eye, sore ribs, and a bleeding cheek.”
A tear escapes my eye.
It’s like someone ripped out my heart and stomped on it.
I’m afraid if I open my mouth, I’ll start sobbing and Liam won’t continue telling his story.
“The part that hurts the most? The girl knew they were going to beat me up after school and she didn’t bother giving me a heads-up. If she had, I would have skipped the next period and hauled my ass home as soon as possible.”
“Names. Addresses,” I spit through gritted teeth. “I’m going to kill her. And the boys who did that to you.”
My words incite a boyish smile to curl Liam’s lips. Ever so gently, he leans forward to brush his lips over my tear. Kissing it away. Like I’m the one who needs comfort.
Despite what he’s been through, he’s so soft and gentle and that only makes me cry harder.
“You mean more to me than I can ever put into words,mo chroí.” Liam kisses both my cheeks, removing all traces of the tears I’m crying for him. “You make my world a better place. I beg you. Please, don’t cry. It hurts me to see you sad.”
Doesn’t he get it?
It hurtsmeto know he was treated this way. That I can do nothing but sit here passively while he relays the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. That I can’t teach his bullies the lesson they deserve.
Because no one is allowed to touch my Liam in violence. Ever.
I want to protect him from all the harm in the world. I want to show him love, kindness, and laughter. I want to give him good memories that’ll overshadow anything bad he’s ever experienced.
I want to tell Liam that he’ll never be alone—that he’ll always have me from this day forward. And that I will always safeguard him to the best of my ability, in the cradle of my arms, in the warmth of my soul, in the protective cage of my heart.
But that can wait until he’s done speaking his side.
“Please tell me what happened afterwards, Liam,” I plead, praying there’s something positive on the other side of this ugly story.
“I went home and my parents saw my wounds. They went absolutely ballistic. The next day, they went to my school and threw a fit in the principal’s office. The boys who beat me up were kicked off the basketball team and expelled once the janitor spoke in my defense. The faculty apologized many times, but the damage was already done.” Liam’s eyes tell me he’s in memory lane. I despise that he’s reliving this horror. “It took me a week to recover from that incident. The following Monday when I went back to school for the first time, I told myself I was going to ask my parents for homeschooling options. I didn’t see the point in learning in an environment that failed to protect me. But then English class came around and my teacher distributed the first set of letters and…I got yours.” Liam’s thumb roved over my cheek in reverence. “And it brought me solace in a time where I felt desolate. You represented hope to me, Bel. You always have and you always will.”
Overwhelmed by my feelings for this guy, I bring our joined hands to my mouth for a kiss. My lips meet the tattooed IV on his thumb.
No matter what happens now, he and I are in it for the long run.
“You were like a ray of sunshine entering my life after many dark days. I had the biggest smile on my face when I was reading your letter. You were so chatty and telling me all these things about yourself.” There’s a fond twinkle in his eyes. “And then you demanded to know everything about me. For the first time in my life, someone my age was taking a genuine interest in me. It was surprising, but so very welcomed. You made me feel seen and heard. It was only a matter of weeks before you became my best friend. Before I…fell for you.”
He fell for me.
Same as I fell for him.
“Oh, Liam.” My smile and voice are shaky. “Writing to you was my solace too. I could feel your selflessness and your big heart in every one of those letters. I loved learning everything about you. You fascinated me with your wisdom and your love for gardening and building things. I even looked forward to all the quotes you shared from your recent reads. Let’s not forget howyoualso made me feel seen and heard. Especially after I told you what happened to me at the party two years ago and how it messed with my mind. You were always there for me, Liam. I too fell for you within a matter of weeks.”
There’s a wild look in his eyes as I confess my feelings.
But before we can move forward with this—us—there’s one more urgent thing to discuss. “Liam, I need to know why you weren’t ready to meet me. Please. It’s been bothering me since you mentioned it. I’ve been dying to see you for two years. I could feel you wanting the same, but you always pulled back. Why?”
Silence falls around us.
The waves and the chirping birds fill the empty space.
I never look away from my best friend.
Liam inhales and takes my palm, placing it on his bearded jaw. “Take a good look at me, Bel.” He smiles wryly. “I’m not the prettiest boy on the block.”
