My heart faltered the moment my eyes fell on her.

She looked eighteen at that moment, just like the day I saw her first.

The top showed her ninety degree shoulders so beautifully, any man would drool over them. Her short skirt giving a perfect view of her long slender legs could make any man go on his knees for her.

Her slow strides towards me made the whole thing more surreal. Her long black hair falling freely behind her back and a few strands covering her face made her more mesmerizing.

My eyes roamed on her body like a shameless person but I can assure you, never in my life I have stared at a living being like her.

She stopped right before me, eyes fixed to the ground, avoiding my heated stare at any cost. The slight tremble of her body and bare legs didn't go unnoticed by me.

Is it because of the cold breeze or her fear towards me?

The moment I stretched my fingers to intertwine her soft ones with mine, she flinched making my fear come true.

I make her afraid.

I could feel a shiver run down her body at the slightest touch, yet she refused to meet my eyes.

With a heavy heart, I led her to our car while I hoped for this to go well.

She didn't make a single sound the whole ride, except for a audible gasp when my fingers brushed her soft creamy thigh that was tempting me from the very moment my eyes fell on her to touch and I kept it there.

It was such a wrong decision to wear this outfit today.

His fingers made circles on my bare thigh every once in a while making me all red and shiver.

Where are we going anyway??

My eyes widened the moment the car halted in front of a beautiful little summer house.

As always, my side of the door was opened by him and my hands in his.

Without a word, he led me inside and I found myself in an awe.

"We will be staying here for a few hours."

Fine by me.

As I hadn't given a reply, his hand squeezed my already bruised hand and I replied a meek "okay"

"Let's go."

His footsteps were fast but got slow once he noticed I was stumbling to match his pace.

We stood before a movie theatre with popcorn and ice cream ready for us, a movie already playing on the 100- inch tv.

Don't we have a same theatre at home?? Did I just say home? Weird.

"Let's watch together."

We both sat on the same sofa while the movie Mr&Mrs Smith played on the screen.

Every once in a while, I could feel his eyes on me. His hand never left my thigh while watching the whole movie.

The ending credits were being shown while his eyes were focusing on me fully. I tried to ignore his unblinking stare at me but failed to do so.

Not knowing what to do, I opted to leave but his hand held mine as he brought me on his lap.

I squirmed to get up but only for him to wrap his hands around my waist as he nestled his face on my neck from behind.

Fear gripped my heart, water ready to break out like a faucet any moment, my will power being the only source to stop them from falling.

My hands wrapped themselves around her waist only to meet with resistance when I hid my face in her neck.

She smelled sweet, sweet like strawberry.

I inhaled her scent a few times successfully calming my racing heart down when another shiver ran down her spine.

This time not stopping at all.

I stayed like this with her in my embrace till I felt my arms getting wet.

My whole stance perked up, trying to comprehend the situation till I realized the wetness to be her tears.

Without a second thought, I got her down beside me and found her eyes casted down, not meeting my eyes like i wanted and water constantly falling from them.

Softly I tried to place the palm of my hand on her cheeks, only to have her flinch and distance herself from my touch.

My heart clenched at her reaction. Have I treated her this bad that she was even afraid of my touch?

My whole entirety knew the answer and so did I. Yet I was hoping for it to be a bad dream, a nightmare, an illusion anything it could be except reality.

Which to my shame, it was not. This is the reality. I have scarred her innocent mind to such extent that even the slightest touch from me is capable of making her flinch.

I retreated my hand, the pads of my finger begging to touch her warm yet cold skin, which I knew was not possible at the moment.

For even a long time perhaps.

Her eyes remained glued to her lap while she played with her fingers.

Ever so carefully, I scooted more close to her, not to alarm her or something but to ask for forgiveness.

The forgiveness I knew I didn't deserve yet longed to have for only I knew how desperately I loved her since the first day I saw her under the thundering sky of that night seven years ago.

"Violet" my voice came out lower than usual, consoling even as I softly placed both my hands on the both sides of her cheek, making her face me.

My heart clenched at the mere sight of her water filled eyes. I can't even count the number of times I have made these eyes tear up at my rough actions.

Again, her eyes casted down, too afraid to meet my eyes.

"Look into my eyes" with a slight push on her chin, I made her eyes again meet mine, this time the water falling more.

Unable to control myself, I found my hands wrapped around her body as I engulfed her into a much needed hug, the water falling from her eyes making my shirt on my shoulder wet.

"I am sorry" I whispered into her ear, sincerely apologizing for all my prior actions , her whole body froze for a moment telling me how unexpected it was, for her at least.

"I am sorry for every single thing I did wrong" if I was going to ask for her forgiveness, then I better do it right.

The sharp intake of her breath told me how she never even expected to hear it from me.

Her hands fisted the cloth over my arms while I rubbed her back up and down.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness and I understand if you don't" my voice trembled at the mere thought of it. Yet I continued

"But I can't live without you. I am begging for another chance to prove myself to you, to show you the real me"

I pulled away a little, our faces so close I could feel her trembling breaths on me.

Her eyes were still as glossy as ever only the water had stopped falling now.

Her lips quivered ever so lightly and the tightening fist on my shirt displayed her confusion.

Her face easily gave away the battle she was having inside her.

Once again I cupped her face and stared deep into her eyes

"Just one chance, Violet. If I do it wrong this time, you can leave. But please.. give me this chance"

I pleaded again. I was not ready for her to go, not now not ever.

She shook her head in a no.

Tears again fell free from her eyes while she distanced herself more from me, her hands joining in a please.

"Please, release me. Release me from this, Damian. I don't want to live with you like this."

Her words rang in my brain.

"I don't want to live with you like this."

"I don't want to live with you like this."

I ran my hand through my hair to stop the sound, only in vain.

"I don't want to live with you like this."

The words echoed in my mind making me crazy while she sat before me crying her eyes out.

No.. This can't be happening. She can't leave me.

"NOOO.." he yelled at the top of his lung making me cry and flinch more.

Rage covered his face and I found my hair roughly pulled in his hand, my both hands trying to release me from him while his flared red.

He tilted my head up, his eyes almost red in anger while he yelled

"YOU ARE MINE, VIOLET, ONLY MINE. YOU ARE STAYING WITH ME. THAT'S FINAL. THE MORE YOU RESIST, THE MORE WILL YOUR FAMILY SUFFER".

He threatened. Using my parents, my sibling.

I nodded my head vigorously wishing for the hell to end when he abruptly left my hair and stared at me with eyes wide.

His eyes displayed nothing but shock. Shock and regret for what he just did to me.

Arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely breath while he apologized over and over.

"I am sorry... i am sorry.. i am sorry. Please don't go Violet. I won't be able to live without you."

I nodded my head, my mind and body too tired to even fight anymore.

No matter what he says, he can't and won't change. This is what I would have to live with for the rest of my life.