Page 41 of Twisted Ties

There’s far more beauty in the broken, in the damaged, than there ever was in the perfect, in the complete, in the whole.

Is that why? Is that why she was destined for me?

I stare at the damage as the light fades and my vision glazes. My breath gradually mellowing, those thoughts in my head settling like the swirling dust.

Then I sweep my hands into the air, more gently now,and with attention and consideration I mend everything I’ve destroyed

And fuck, I want to smash her into a million pieces just so I can gather them up in my hands and mend her back together.

14

Rhi

The dorm roomis empty when I reach it but fortunately, when Winnie returns an hour later, my welcome is a lot warmer than the one I received from Summer and her posse.

“Rhi?” she says, dropping all her books on the floor and dashing towards me. “Are you back or–”

“I’m back.”

Winnie squeals, bouncing up and down on her toes before wrapping me in a hug.

“I’m probably being completely selfish given your current situation, but I am so pleased.” She squeezes me, then stops. “Hang on,” she mutters, taking a step back and swinging her gaze around. “Where is he?”

She peers under the bed and then stalks towardsthe wardrobe.

“He’s not here.” I giggle.

My friend swings around to look at me with a huge grin on her face. “Did you … bang?”

I roll my eyes. “Maybe … yes … quite a few times … actually pretty much non-stop.”

I expect her to crow about being right – how all the banging has allowed me to separate from my mate. Instead, she takes my hands and lowers me to her bunk.

“Tell me everything,” she says, eagerly.

“There isn’t a whole lot to tell– Ow!” I yell as my friend pinches my leg. “I’ve only just recovered.”

“From all the banging?” She pinches me again. “Don’t hold back on me now. Come on, give me the dish, witch.”

“It’s been very … hot,” I say.

“Uh huh.” She nods eagerly, urging me to go on.

“He’s very … skilled.”

“Oh, I bet he is!” She waits for me to say more and when I don’t she asks, “Is his dick as big as the rest of him?”

“Winnie!”

“Oh, come on, Rhi, I’m dying to know. The man is a giant. If I were you, I’d have been petrified that I could even fit his thing inside me.” She makes a show of looking me over. “But you seem to be in one piece.”

“You were the one encouraging me to sleep with him!”

“So, it didn’t hurt?” she asks, ignoring me.

“No,” I say, shivering a little at the memories. “Anything but.”

“I’m pleased for you, Rhi. But, what happens next?”