The Register | H.S.

WARNING
This chapter addresses sensitive subjects like sexual assault.

________________________

Aspen

I was about to fall asleep when the car pulled up in front of my house. I was exhausted but I was afraid to fall asleep. If I fell asleep, it meant that I hadn't dreamed, that all of this had really happened. Harry's hand rested gently on my thigh.

"We're at your place, Angel." He told me in his soft voice, trying to wake me up quietly from my sleep.

I nodded, my eyes still closed. Her hand gently left my thigh, leaving behind a cold lack. I heard his door open and then closed behind him. I quietly opened my eyes, seeing him walk around his car, heading to the passenger side. He slowly opened the door, then held out his hand to me. I could see in his eyes that he was careful not to make a sudden movement, as if he was afraid to frighten me. I put my hand in his. Her skin was warm and soft. He helped me up and then put his hand on my lower back as we made our way to my apartment.

He borrowed my keys and opened the door. We walked to my room. I sat down on my bed, my gaze lost in space. He crouched down in front of me trying to catch my gaze.

"Do you want me to get you some clean clothes?" He said, looking me in the eyes.

"Please."

He rummaged through my drawers and pulled out some panties, shorts and a long t-shirt.

"You should go take a bath. I think it would make you feel better." Harry suggested.

I nodded, my eyes staring into her green irises. The features of his face were relaxed, unlike usual. He looked like a guardian angel.

He smiled tenderly at me before gently taking my hands and leading me to the bathroom. I sat down on the toilet lid as he stacked my clothes and a clean towel. He started to run a bubble bath for me and then came back to me. I still hadn't moved. He walked over to me and pulled my hair up, tying it in a bun on the top of my head with the elastic that was around his wrist. He crouched down again in front of me putting his hands on mine on my knees.

"I'll let you do the rest on your own, is that ok sweetheart?" He made sure of it.

I nodded, my eyes fixed on my knees, his hands resting delicately on mine. He kissed the top of my hand by placing one of his hands on my cheek while getting up.

I looked up as he prepared to step through the door frame.

"Thank you." I tell him, my eyes fixed on him.

He turned and then looked at me tenderly. A soft smile appeared on his face.

"I'll wait for you outside the room." He said in a reassuring voice.

It took me several minutes to move. I finally got up and began to remove my makeup with a wipe. The product in which the cleansing wipe was soaked burned my cheek, scratched by the wall on which it was pressed earlier. The bruises on my jaw left by Matthew's fingers were no longer camouflaged under a thick layer of foundation. I turned off the faucet of the bath filled with water. I began to undress myself, then I saw Matthew's dried sperm on the inside of my thighs. I got into the tub and began to frantically rub the substance stuck to my skin, as if I wanted to not only remove it from my body but also from my mind. My eyes began to fill with tears. I finally stop and then start to cry in silence. I rested my back on the edge of the tub and closed my eyes. I tried to clear my mind, taking a deep breath.

Harry's voice brought me back to Earth. He seemed on the phone, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. The water in my bath was now lukewarm. I hadn't even realized how long I had been in it.