Page 24 of Protective Love

Sophia jumps up from beside me, rushing to grab a cup from the table across the room and fills it with water before hurrying over to me and lifting the cup to my lips.

I swallow some of the water down, slightly soothing the soreness in my throat and once she pulls the water away from me, I try again.

"Who—" I cough again, struggling to get my words out.

My eyes stay glued to Rory's neck and my hand tightens around hers.

"W-who. Did. That," I bite out, my voice rough and croaky.

Her hand starts to tremble beneath mine and I tear my gaze away from her neck and up to her eyes.

She nervously glances between me and Sophia, and she rolls her lips inward as she tries to pull her shaking hand away from mine.

"Rory," I breathe, exhausted from exerting myself and pushing myself to speak and move when I'm unsure my body is ready for so much all at once. "Who?"

My eyes drop back to her neck, silently communicating with her that I can see the bruises and that's what I'm asking about.

Her lips part, and her bottom one starts to wobble as her glassy eyes dart across my face.

Sophia gently places her hand on my arm, giving it a small squeeze before she slowly stands from her chair.

"Rory, are you okay?" she asks, watching the nurse beside me with a concerned and cautious look in her eyes.

Rory stares at me like a deer in headlights as she takes a shaky deep breath.

"I, uh, I'll be right back," she mutters before yanking her hand away from mine and practically running out of the room.

I stare at the door as it closes behind her, shocked by what's just happened.

Shit. What if I've scared her off?

My eyes dart over to Sophia who's also staring at the door, her brows drawn low.

"S-soph," I croak out.

Her head whips around and her eyes shimmer with ushed tears.

She reads my unsaid words immediately and nods her head before giving my arm another squeeze.

"I'll go find her," she says, walking towards the door.

As she grabs the handle, she turns to look at me over her shoulder.

"Are you going to be okay?"

I jerkily nod at her in response, knowing why she's asking me that question, but I can't worry about myself at the moment and I certainly don't want to spiral into the dark depths of my mind and think about my childhood and everything my mother endured in life.

All I can focus on right now is if Rory is okay.

Chapter Thirteen

Rory

My breaths are choppy, and my chest is rising and falling at a rapid pace as I hurriedly walk down the hallway towards the staff room, hoping that no one is in there because I know I'm about to have a meltdown and I don't want anyone else to witness me in this state.

I reach the door just as a tear drips from the corner of my eyes. I push it open, throwing myself inside the room and slamming the door shut behind me.

My panicked eyes dart around the empty room as my body slides down the length of the door and when I'm positive no one else is in here, I let myself fall apart while I sit on the cold, tiled floor.