She won’t lay a finger on my shoulder or let a word slip from her lips. No matter how much she is hurting, she tries to comfort me first and I hate it. The hate burns inside me and I wish there was something I could do, but there isn’t. What’s done is done.

I stare into her eyes and become desperate for contact of some sort, but knowing I can’t have it kills me.

I watched the days pass as my cell phone failed to ring. She wouldn’t speak to anyone as she stayed in her room with tears forming by the second. I visualized her a million different ways like the times she was happy. The way she would smile so bright that her nose would wrinkle a bit at the bridge. Nothing warmed that bad feeling I held tightly in my chest.

Finally my phone rang as her name flashed on the screen. I picked it up hurriedly and jumped to be the first to speak. “Ashley?” I asked already knowing the answer. I heard a few sniffles from the other line and attempts at words but nothing came out complete. “Are you okay, what happened?” I dragged it out of her the best I could. She still wasn’t crying in front of me, and I knew she never would. But she was crying and I knew it.

“Spence, no matter what happens; you know that I love you right?” She asked. Her voice was hoarse and it cracked in the words.

“Of course I do. Baby, what’s going on? You are honestly scaring me.” I admitted. I could hear a faint sound of water in the background, but I couldn’t make out what it was through her heavy breathing.

“And you know that nothing bad that happens to me is your fault right?” She asked me and my heart began to race.

“I know. Where are you, Ashley?” I demanded. I could almost hear the trickling of her tears through the receiver.

“Tell me something,” She whispered. “Tell me that you love me.”

This was it and I knew what was happening. “I love you so much, Ash. Just tell me where you are. I want to help, baby. Please, let me help you.” I begged.