I lift up my right sleeve and he takes in the less horrific sight, fully aware of what to expect this time. His eyes search my face for answers to this self-abuse, but I can't speak; the shock of what I'm doing sending me into muteness.
"Is that it?" He whispers, eyes glistening with worry as his fingers again pass over my scarred skin.
I find myself shaking my head and lifting up the hem of my shirt to show him the damage done to my hips. He is taking this better than I would have thought. I had been guessing that he would freak out, maybe scream at me; tell me to get out. But he doesn't do any of those things, just stares at me, begging for an explanation with his worry-coated face.
"Legs, too." I manage to choke out, lowering my head and letting my hair fall in my face.
"River..." He starts hesitantly, as if I'm too fragile to hear his words. "W-why? What would make you do this to yourself?"
I shake my head, resuming my quiet state. I can't explain. That would mean telling him everything; every repressed memory, every night when I was little that I cried myself to sleep, every verbal beating, every day of abuse. All the horrible things that keep me up at night can finally be out in the open. But I can't put that burden on him.
I know that relying on others just causes more pain. Especially when the ones you decide to trust turn out to be untrustworthy. I am giving Harrison a secret, just one; I hope that he doesn't decide to break my confidence and tell someone.
My heart skips a nervous beat when I feel his hand pulling down the hem of my shirt, and finding a gentle resting place on my right arm. My eyes snap up to meet his and he smiles sadly at me.
"Talk to me." He coaxes quietly.
I take a shaky breath, closing my eyes for a moment, before starting my tale. "I... Well, I'm not really who you think I am." I say quietly.
He lifts an eyebrow quizzically. "Explain?" He suggests.
I hold his gaze, tapping my foot nervously. "I just... I-I mean, I guess there's more to me than you'd think. And those parts of me aren't pleasant."
He squints his eyes, only half his face being illuminated by the light of the television. "Everyone has personality issues, River.." He states until the realization dawns on his face, causing his mouth to open slightly. "Unless... Well, unless you've had something happen. Did somethi"
"Is that it?" He whispers, eyes glistening with worry as his fingers again pass over my scarred skin.
I find myself shaking my head and lifting up the hem of my shirt to show him the damage done to my hips. He is taking this better than I would have thought. I had been guessing that he would freak out, maybe scream at me; tell me to get out. But he doesn't do any of those things, just stares at me, begging for an explanation with his worry-coated face.
"Legs, too." I manage to choke out, lowering my head and letting my hair fall in my face.
"River..." He starts hesitantly, as if I'm too fragile to hear his words. "W-why? What would make you do this to yourself?"
I shake my head, resuming my quiet state. I can't explain. That would mean telling him everything; every repressed memory, every night when I was little that I cried myself to sleep, every verbal beating, every day of abuse. All the horrible things that keep me up at night can finally be out in the open. But I can't put that burden on him.
I know that relying on others just causes more pain. Especially when the ones you decide to trust turn out to be untrustworthy. I am giving Harrison a secret, just one; I hope that he doesn't decide to break my confidence and tell someone.
My heart skips a nervous beat when I feel his hand pulling down the hem of my shirt, and finding a gentle resting place on my right arm. My eyes snap up to meet his and he smiles sadly at me.
"Talk to me." He coaxes quietly.
I take a shaky breath, closing my eyes for a moment, before starting my tale. "I... Well, I'm not really who you think I am." I say quietly.
He lifts an eyebrow quizzically. "Explain?" He suggests.
I hold his gaze, tapping my foot nervously. "I just... I-I mean, I guess there's more to me than you'd think. And those parts of me aren't pleasant."
He squints his eyes, only half his face being illuminated by the light of the television. "Everyone has personality issues, River.." He states until the realization dawns on his face, causing his mouth to open slightly. "Unless... Well, unless you've had something happen. Did somethi"
