bright and shining through the window. I could hear some remote noise from outside. I wanted to stretch myself. I was naked and blushed a little at the memories of last night. Getting up in the morning was so difficult, it was so nice and comfortable lying under the warm blanket. I discovered that there were no arms wrapped around me or any breaths fanning my face. It saddened me a little that I didn't wake up to a perfect morning after what happened last night.

I turned around and a smile reached my ears as I saw Auden, his hands tucked behind his head as he lay facing the ceiling with his eyes closed. His eyebrows were furrowed and he looked tense. I reached out to his face to soothe his eyebrows but immediately became alarmed when his hand grabbed mine from touching his face.

He was awake.

He was already awake.

He gently pushed my arm away and got up, facing the other side of the room. His legs dangling off the bed and he looked like he wanted to get up and walk away, but he stayed.

My heart broke in two at his actions.

Worry lines etched onto my face and I clutched the sheet to my chest as I got up. I crawled towards him and laid my hand on his shoulder, making his body stiffen.

"Auden, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice cracking a little at the end. He had never behaved this way towards me before that it broke me inside. At the sound of my weak voice, Auden turned around to look at me. His eyes were a dark blue. He looked angry and tense, but I could see the concern behind them.

"Auden, tell me what's going on." I almost begged and he stood up, tucking his hand into his beige shorts that he must have worn later. He started walking away and anger built up inside of me. This is not what I had in mind for a perfect morning. And, I am not a patient person when it comes to problems. I want them solved right away.

"Auden!" I shouted across the room, just as he reached the door. He stopped at my voice but stood there, never turning around. I waited for him to say something. The sound of the clock ticking away precious seconds and minutes were the only noise that filled the room. Reminding me of the minutes that were supposed to be perfect, but now they were a disaster.

Suddenly, he turned around, giving me a sharp gaze and walked towards me with stride and determination. My heart skipped a beat as he reached for my arm and pulled me out of bed. I tumbled a little but knew that Auden would never hurt me. He pulled me to stand in front of the huge mirror. In an instant, he had pulled the white sheet that was curled warmly around me away. And there I stood, completely and utterly naked in front of him and the mirror.

I knew exactly why he was angry right there and then.

"What are these?" His voice was low and controlled. Like he was trying to control himself from doing something.

My eyes scanned over the small bruises and faded scars that etched my thighs, my stomach, and my back. There was one scar, a deep one that was stretched from my hip to the back of my thigh. I shuddered, trying to push back the memories that were poking my mind. I had forgotten about all these things that I always hid perfectly. The time when his fingers reached underneath my shirt, I had pushed him away afraid he would see the bruises. The dresses I wore, were also dresses that hid the small scars and wounds on my body. I had been always cautious of them. They were a constant reminder every morning when I bathe. Reminding me that I was weak and that I never fought back. How could I have forgotten about this? Did lust and desire blind me so badly?

"Kitkat, who did this?" His voice was soft, with an unmistakable crack at the end. "Tell me!" His voice rose a little.

My heartstrings pulled at the sweet nickname but I pursed my lips, not knowing how to respond to him.

"Auden, you need to calm do—"

"I don't have to fucking calm down." He shouted, letting the anger get to him and I flinched at the intensity. His voice calmed down at my action and he neared me. "Tell me who did this to you. Why didn't you tell me this?" He asked now, softly, his eyes looked like they were hurting and I felt tears brim my eyes as I tried to push them back.

He had noticed and he pulled me into his arms. I welcomed the feeling, basking in his embrace. My face buried into his chest and I cried, as I let all of my pain out, he held me close, rubbing my hair and my back soothingly. It was a raw cry, one that you would be ashamed of to cry in front of people.

But, he was not just a person.

He was my soul.

"I'm sorry." He muttered and kissed the top of my forehead. I nodded, knowing that I could never stay angry with him and his actions were always out of concern for me.

"Who did it?" He asked softly, yet cautious of my response. I pursed my lips, knowing that I could never hide it from him now and let out a shaky breath.

"Fleur, Freya, Elliot and Anton. Randa's children. They used me as a punching bag whenever they got angry." I breathed out. "Nothing more." I quickly added before he got his imagination twisted around. Those words were hard to get out of my chest. I have never talked about it to anyone before. I have never told anyone about it before. It was hard to form the words and get the sentences out. But, now that they were out, I felt a sense of relaxation, knowing that there was somebody to hear me now. Somebody to listen and care for me. I hugged Auden tighter, fearing he would let go. He only hugged me back tighter, telling me that he would never let me go. I could feel his breathing speed up. He was trying to control his anger.

"Please don't do anything to them. They are not worth our time. I just want to forget about them." I said and I felt him relax at my explanation. Of course, I wanted revenge. I wanted to harm them in ways that they did to me. But, I am the better person. I have to be the better person here. I don't want to stoop to their level. My mom didn't raise me to be that way. And, I don't even want anything to do with them.

I decided to change the topic and cool him down. "Minda, the maid, was the only friend I had. She helped me escape. She helped me clean my wounds sometimes." I said, feeling him rub my back in comforting patterns.

I remember her asking me one day when I was in the bathroom, crying because of a punch I had received in my stomach from Anton. She asked, 'Do you want to continue living this way?' I knew I couldn't continue living this way, I wanted to be free. I had told her my plans and she had helped me with them.

It was a planned escape that worked perfectly and that's when I met Auden along the street. My heart warmed at the memory and I looked up to meet his face. His eyes were red and filled with tears. They never flowed down but I could see the pain in his eyes. My tears were dry now and I reached for his cheek, gently pulling him down. Our foreheads met and we remained that way, silent and enjoying each other's presence. Just his presence and love was enough for me.

I didn't need money.

I didn't need fame.

I didn't need beauty.

Just his love was enough.

It was more than enough.

"I love you." I heard him mutter and a tear flowed down my right eye as I smiled heartily.

"I love you too."

A smile stretched his lips at my immediate response and he reached forward, kissing my lips with passion. The pain inside was gone and the past was forgotten immediately. They were gone and only one thing in this entire universe mattered to me.

Auden.

"Love?" He called. I nodded, and he smiled.

"I have got a surprise for you—"

Suddenly, the door to our room opened and I whipped my head around to look at who it was as my heart raced. Before I could even lay my eyes on them, the door was closed back again. My eyes were wide in alarm.

"MAMA SITA CHICKA BANG BANG! THEY FINALLY HAD SEX!"

Oh god, Shira.

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