“You…you…” he whispers, grasping onto me desperately. “I can’t believe it…a family…”
“Our family.”
“No one will touch you again, I swear to you. No one will ever hurt you. You don’t need to hide. You won’t be alone. I’m here now. I’ll always be here. No one is leaving. I’m your family, Riley. You and…you both are.”
And that’s all it takes for me to break down.
Completely.
And I cry, all night.
I cry without saying a word. I cry without strength or voice.
I cry all the tears I’ve been holding back my whole life.
I cry for all the years I spent in fear.
I cry for the pain that I still feel and always will. I cry for what I lost and what I’ll never get back.
And he kisses me, taking away my breath and everything else, and giving me himself in its place.
It’s the only thing I want.
Ian O’Connor.
Everywhere.
