Break Me (Phan)

Philip Lester
Sunday 25th October (continued...)

Dan stayed by my side until the last stitch was knotted up and then he dismissed himself to the toilet. The nurse dressed the wound and gave me a handful of bandages, telling me I had five stitches and was to change the dressings every other day for a week, then I could change them weekly, if there was no sign of infection. I smiled, giving my thanks as they left the room.

I was left staring at the cold hospital walls with the sound of a clock ticking, signifying every second of tension building between my mum and I. She looked expectantly at me, looming over from the end of the room. I groaned, turning my head away, "Please just...I need you to be patient," I began, "I don't know what's going on, either. I met Dan a week ago and he's difficult, but really amazing. I'm just going to give him time."

"Oh, Phil..." Mum smiled as she sat on the chair where Dan was, "Obviously I'm worried about you, but I also trust in you and your decisions. I also believe in the Markings, I mean, who couldn't?!"

"We've lied to you." I spoke, my lips sinking between my teeth.

"Phil, I know, but I also know you wouldn't do that unless you really had to. I don't know what's going on for Dan, or who gave you that cut, but I won't interfere. You're a wonderful man and anyone who doesn't trust you is an idiot." she stroked my fringe away from my eye, "Phil?"

"Yeah?" I responded, anxiety rising in me at her tone.

"Can I tell you something? But, before I do know that I only haven't told you before for your own safety."

I gulped, "Okay."

"Your dad and I aren't soulmates. We did first meet by shaking hands, but we'd both matched our Markings with other people before. However, we lost them. Yet we found each other and we are so, so happy." she grinned, shrugging her right shoulder. I furrowed my eyebrows, processing what she'd told me, "We would have said something when you were younger, but knowing you then, you'd not be able to keep it a secret and you'd have been bullied for it."

I chuckled, shaking my head, "So, you're not...soulmates? You two love each other more than I've ever seen anyone else!"

"Awe, Phil." she cooed, "That's sweet, but, let me leave you with something...why should who you're with be defined by anyone else?"

"It shouldn't..."

"Then why is almost every couple in the world defined by a force?"

"Mum...I'm not sure what you're getting at." I sighed, slouching my body.

"The Markings don't matter if you've found someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, whether that's your soulmate or not. Being a soulmate means nothing if what you base your relationship on is love, whether platonic, romantic, or sexual. Love is the most powerful force, beyond anything the universe can give us." she ended her speech with her hand on my knee, standing upright as Dan entered the room. She smiled at him, "Ready to go?" I exchanged a look with him as he nodded, so we left the sterile building behind us.

"Do you want your top back?" Dan whispered to me.

I grinned, shaking my head, "It looks better on you than it ever did on me." I shrugged, smirking as I spoke, "Although you could be clotheless and still be wearing them better than me." Dan tensed beside me and I wasn't sure if it was him becoming flustered or uncomfortable, so I left the comment behind me.

When we arrived home, I stood with Dan on the pavement as I stared into his eyes, meaning every word I spoke past my lips, "Call me if there's any problems. Then, meet me back here. I'll talk to my mum and then after you've sorted everything out, you can come home, okay?" my hands were wrapped tightly around his elbows, not wanting him to go back to his place.

"Come...home?" he looked down, his cheeks painted a slight pink.

"I mean that." he looked back up at me and ran the tip of his tongue against his lips. For a second, I hoped he would have kissed me. But instead, he nodded, turning away as he walked up the street.

"Is he not coming in?" Mum asked over my shoulder.

"Not yet. Can I talk to you?" my tone was serious as I took a deep breath.

"Of course, Phil." Mum agreed, walking up the steps and into the house. We sat on our cream sofas and she crossed one leg over the other, whereas I pulled them both onto the cushion and sat with them entwined with each other.

"I don't...I have no clue where to start. Okay, right. I guess the truth. I heard shouting earlier today, after I went to the park with Dan. I then realised it was his screams, so shot down the street looking for the house they were coming from. I ran up his steps to see his drunk dad, who I saw when I took Dan to the pub, trying to...fucking hell probably kill him...So, I barged my way between them and he nipped my neck before I could get him down on the floor. I fell onto Dan and our Markings touched. That's when I pulled him outside and up to our house. We then realised we were soulmates...and...yeah. But, the truth is only part of it. I didn't say the reality earlier because I was worried about Dan, but I think he'd like me to tell you just not around him. Something's not right about his dad and I now know he's physically abusive but for how long or if there's more to it...I don't know. I'm really fucking worried about him, Mum." I groaned, my fingers running over my dyed fringe.

"So he's moving in here?" she confirmed.

"How did you know I offered that?" my head tilted to one side.

"Well, what else were you going to do, send him back there? What's he doing there now-?!" she began to shout at me.

"He's got my number. He's checking his dad is...well, alive, collecting his things, and then he'll be back. I'm not sure whether that's this evening or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow, it can't be easy to pack everything in one night." I reassured. Mum didn't seem too pleased but she nodded, letting a sigh pass through her nose. I took out my phone and sent Dan a message so he had my number for sure.

Me: Hey Dan! It's the boogeyman. Stay safe and text me if you need me x

Dan: All good. My father's passed out on the sofa but he's obviously moved around the place. I'll stay the night here then bring my stuff over before my shift tomorrow? Xx

Me: Sounds good :) Call me if anything's wrong. Can't you get tomorrow off? Xxx

Dan: I really shouldn't, David hates me and is ready to fire me at the first chance he gets xxx

Me: Okay :( xxx

Dan: :P xxx

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