Salvation lies in the strangest of places,

and finds us at the strangest of times.

Bravery is knowing that it is okay to hurt

when we accept the salvation placed before us,

it is okay to be afraid and it is okay to tremble.

Do not fear the fall

when it is the leaping

that will set you free.

~Tyler Knott Gregson

***

I sit up when I hear the door opening.

Red hair and green eyes are staring at me.

I close my eyes and blink twice before I take in the light brown hair and matching eyes.

"Mark."

He stands in the doorway, smiling softly at me before walking closer.

"Lexie."

He sits down at the foot of the bed, and slowly reaches for my hand.

I let him take it. Normally Mark knew that I didn't like contact. But I knew something was different. Something told me he needed this. And maybe, in a way, so did I.

"I'm sorry Lex." His words come out strangled within his throat. Hoarse.

"I couldn't stop him again."

I look down and shake my head, "It's okay."

Mark repeats my actions and shakes his own head, "It's not. We both know it."

I look up and smile, "He didn't get that far this time."

"That doesn't matter Lex. He still hurt you. He still touched you. And dad..." Angry tears well up in Mark's eyes as he furiously wipes them away. "The fucker was more messed up than the other one."

I give a small laugh at Marks angry remark.

He glares at me, "What's funny about-,"

"It's not funny."

I sigh and look down at our held hands.

"It's not funny," I repeat.

We sit in silence until Mark speaks, "Alpha Brandon imprisoned him. For life. He killed another member of a pack."

I nod and look out the window.

"Lex."

I look back to Mark as I take in his voice.

He smiles softly at me, "What are you going to paint Lex?"

I smile back at him. Our own little form of therapy.

"I'm going to paint a rose."

He nods, "Good. Good Lexie. Tell me. Tell me how you'll paint the rose?"

I sigh and lean back. Mark falls next to me, resting beside me as I raise my hands.

And so I describe it to him.

Sorry for the short chapter! (I'm still sick so give me a break please /-_-

(btw that's supposed to be a prayer face...)

Thanks for reading loves ♥