I Bruise Easily

This is something i started ages ago

I hope this doesnt offend anyone it was all from imagination, hope u like

As she looked in the mirror, she touched the nasty blue and purple mark that was around her eye, it reminded her of him, last night, the anger he had shown, the foundation had started to ware off she realised and in her rush to leave the house she forgot to pack it in her bag. She reached to touch the mark and winced as her fingers lightly touch the bruise. She was worried that people would notice it now; she took a deep breath, washed her hands, dried them and left the bathroom to go back to work behind the counter.

As she looked up while walking, pulling on her suit jacket to straighten it she bumped into someone, she looked up realising who it was her cheeks flushed red, feeling her skin warm, she was immediately self conscious of her eye and looked down away from his gaze. His fingers caught her chin and she felt the electric that she always felt when he brushed against her skin with accidental touches.

“What happened to your eye?” his silky voice washing over her, his fingers brushing the sensitive area where the bruise was. She flinched, his hand brushing down her cheek, she swallowed, “It’s bruised, quite badly. Did he do this?” she had remembered last time her boyfriend had beaten her in rage, he had noticed, he had wanted to protect her. “Maybe you should come and stay with me?” that, she thought, was a bad idea.

“I should get back to work, there’s processing to be done” she pulled away from him, as she brushed past him he caught her wrist, she winched, there was a bruise there too.

“Wait, he can’t keep doing this, you need to get out, please come and stay with me”

“I’ll think about it” he let her go and she rushed back to her work.

She was sitting on the train home, her head down, trying to get her hair to cover her eye; she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. ‘My offer still stands x’ the message read, it was from Simon, he was still worried about her, he always made her feel so safe, made her feel wanted. Ever since last year at the Christmas dinner, he had never really spoken to her properly before, she was always sneaking glances at him, she was in a relationship with her current boyfriend a year before she had started the job at the bank, she never knew that her boyfriend would ever hurt her until that same Christmas he struck her, hard, nearly breaking her rib because she had got something in the meal she had cooked wrong, she was always frightened to go home. She had no one to turn too. Her parents had died, and her Grandparents where nowhere to be found. She noticed the stop coming up and stood to get off. She wasn’t going home tonight.

“Mary, oh my god what happened to you?! What did that prick do?!” She had gone to Marie’s house, she knew she was running away from her problems but she couldn’t go back there to her home, the place where he constantly abused her. He knew to find her here but she couldn’t trust herself with Simon, something was growing between them and she wanted to keep it at bay, well that’s what she kept telling herself.

“He was drinking and got angry” Mary whispered, her voice steady although inside she was ready to break down and cry, she couldn’t take it anymore, then she remember the text. ‘Thank you for the offer, I shall keep it in mind, I won’t be with him for much longer. x’ After the message was sent she placed it on the hallway counter. “I’m sorry to bother you Marie, I know Ben is home on Thursday nights” Marie tutted taking Mary’s coat.

“Don’t be so silly! You are always welcome here, and plus Ben being here means if that bastard turns up he can’t hurt you” Mary smiled, wincing as the skin around her eye creased. “Let me run you a hot bath, give you some clothes and I’ll make some tea and you can tell me all about it” Marie led Mary up the stairs, leaving her phone on the counter unaware that Chris was calling.

All three adults jumped as they heard heavy hard banging on the front door, Mary knew who it was, she had received 13 missed calls and 20 text messages from Chris demanding where she was and why she wasn’t home with his dinner on the table for him, she could tell by the messages that he had been for a few drinks after he had finished work, the messages had got angrier as she never answered them. Ben went and answered the front door.

“I want to see Mary!” Christ shouted through the hallway.

“She doesn’t want to see you” Ben replied, in a calm soothing tone, Ben was a police man so he knew how to deal with these types of people. Chris tried to push his way into Ben’s house.

“I want to see Mary!” he shouted even louder, Mary appeared behind Ben, slightly quivering not really wanting to face him, “Mary! Babe! Why weren’t you at home?” His voice was calm and sweet like for now. Mary placed her hand on Ben’s arm which signaled that it was ok, he could move but to stay close, Ben moved to stand by the living room doorway.

“I didn’t want to come home” Mary said trying to sound tuff and strong even though inside it was difficult. “I didn’t want to see you” this made him angry although knowing Ben was a police man Chris tried to keep his cool, although Mary could tell it was slipping.

“Aw, why baby? I love you, you know that” he reached to touch her cheek, she stepped back slightly, he anger was close to slipping and if she wasn’t careful he would snap.

“I don’t think that I....” she stopped, wondering if she should say it, wondering if she did what other hell would he put her through, but she had to say it “I don’t think that I love you... anymore” he launched at her his hands wrapping around her throat, her hands gripping and scratching against his, trying to get him off. Ben had called Marie and they were both trying to get her to let go of Mary. He shoved them off, releasing her with only one hand and slapping her across her left cheek. Mary cried out in pain but was still trying to get him to let her go; her breathing was being cut off. They heard police sirens, he pushed Mary to the ground and kicked her in the ribs; Ben restrained him against the frame of the front door. The police came running in as Marie went to Mary’s side, trying to find out if she was ok. Mary clutched her side as she watched through tears as three police men and Ben took Chris to the police car.

“I’m so sorry Marie” Mary said as she wiped her tears away. Marie glared at her.

“Don’t say sorry for needing help and for what he does, he deserves what he gets! We need to clean you up and make sure you are ok” Marie handed Mary a warm wet cloth to place against her red swollen cheek, her hand clutching her side.

“I can’t stay here Marie, he might come back” She winced as the pain in her side made its self known again. “The police might only keep him over night; they didn’t see what he did”

“But where will you go? Its ten o’clock at night” Mary thought, she only had one option that he didn’t know where she would be. Marie waited patiently for Mary’s answer.

“I need my mobile”

He had answered straight away, Ben had driven her to his, and he weren’t that far from them.

“Thank you Ben, I’m so sorry for all the trouble I have caused tonight”

“Don’t be so silly Mary, your always welcome round, he’s a low life, and he doesn’t deserve someone like you. Now you be careful and let Marie know how you are in the morning”

“I will thanks” Mary left the car and faced Simon’s house. It wasn’t that big, quite cosy. She rung the doorbell, nerves racking through her, her uniform neatly folded in the bag Marie let her borrow, she was dressed in tracksuit bottoms and an old t-shirt that was too big for her, Marie’s clothes, the t-shirt was from her feeling fat phase. Simon answered the door.

“Mary! Come in please, quickly” she entered his house, still nervous. He took her bag from her and placed it by the stairs. “What did he do?! I’d like to rip his throat out!” she felt the tears finally well up, despite feeling embarrassed about her appearance and the bruises being clear for him to see, she needed to cry and he was there right at the right moment for her.

“I-I’m sorry” she said through hard heavy tears. He pulled her gently against him, being careful of her tiny frame. “I didn’t know where else to go after that” she said through sobs.

“It’s alright, I’m here now, nothing to be sorry about or afraid of” he rubbed gentle circles on her back and stroked her hair. “I’ll always be here” She gripped his t-shirt tightly as the tears come rolling down, tears that for some reason wouldn’t stop.

She smiled shyly at Simon as he handed her a mug of hot tea and sat down across from her, good idea she thought, stay as far away from her as possible, the tension between them still there dispite what had happened. Her cheek was still swollen and red, slightly bruising around the edge of the mark, her ribs throbbed with pain, and she knew there would be a massive bruise there if not now, but in the morning. “How you feeling now?” he asked her.

“Dispite well...” she smiled dispite the pain.

“I feel a bit better thanks, he can’t find me here. I told him I didnt love him anymore and thats how tonights attack started” she stared down at her tea, her cheeks flushing from embarressment, she felt things towards him. He placed his tea on the coffie table and sat back in his chair. “He had also been drinking and I hadn’t gone home tonight”

“Well your safe here, you’re always welcome here” he walked over to where she was sitting and sat beside her, he examined her face gently, his fingers brushing her skin, her eyes closing against his gentle touch.

“It’s getting late, maybe we should go to bed because of work tomorrow” she went to stand,

“Your not going to work like that, your in pain” he said catching her hand in his.

“I have to, I need money” he frowned, he wasnt happy.

“Maybe you should just have tomorrow off, I’ll explain to the manager” she smiled at his concern, “You need rest and for them bruises and injuries to heal, you are taking tomorrow off and staying here, everything will be fine” He kissed her on the cheek that wasn’t bruised and then led her towards the room she would be sleeping in. She was a little shocked at the kiss on her cheek, she touched the place where he kissed, her cheeks flushing again.

Her fingers gripped tightly on the door as she peered round it, she didnt want to bump into Simon in the middle of the night. Mary made her way back down the hallway towards the stairs and the kitchen, she needed a glass of water. She made her way back up the stairs, then she notice Simon coming down the hallway, she froze, she had seen herself in the window, she didnt look at all that attractive. “I thought there was an intruder!” he laughed, rubbing the back of his head once he realised it was Mary. She smiled shyly at him, “You should be in bed, you need rest” he took the glass of water from her and led her back to her room.

“Thank you Simon, for everything” he brused the side of her un-bruised cheek with his fingers, she could feel that tension again, her eyes slowly drifted closed as she felt herself leaning towards him.

Her eyes shot open when she realised what was happening, both of them jumped apart, their lips had been inches from meeting, the water went flying, soaking them both. She blushed bright red, stepping back away from her him, her heels and then her back hitting the door to her room. He was blushing slightly too, he bent to pick up the water.

“I’m s-sorry” she said, she didn’t wait for his reply, she turned and entered her room slamming the door closed as she tried to quickly get away from him before she lost herself again. He fisted his free hand, frustration coming over him as he tried to get his emotions in check ‘Get a grip man! She’s just left her abusive boyfriend, be there for her doesn’t mean kiss her!’ he thought angrily to himself, he walked back to his room, the water would dry.

She sat against the door, her fingers in her hair, leaning on her bent knees, why could she still feel that tension, she shouldnt feel anything towards him right now. She should feel scared. She should feel vunareble around him. She should feel withdrawn. But she didnt, she wanted to be closer, she wanted to feel him, to kiss him, to feel him hold her in his arms. She bent her head lower towards her knees, she was confussed. The only thing she understood was that she wanted him.