I bury my face into her neck as well, as I loosen my hold on her, I inhale in her scent, deeply. I know how it feels, because I cried too when I found out. I screamed, and yelled, but it was one no one heard. It was like a part of my died, even though I managed to discover who I really am. But the part of me that I know could make my parents happy, the part of me that people could be content with, just died. But none of that matters now, only she matters. Because right now, me and her are the only two people in the world.

Only me, only I can hold her like this. She’ll only cry in my arms, and she’ll only show these emotions to me. I’m the only one who can see her, the real her.

We both pull away slightly, and I bring my mouth to her forehead, leaving a chaste kiss. I look to her face. Her tear stained cheeks are red, eyes looking directly at me, with her mouth quivering slightly. She looks so fragile and small.

I bring my hand up to her face, and gently cup her cheek. I bring my other hand up, and wipe away the tears growing on the brim of her eyes.

I gently stroke her cheek with the pad of my thumb, drawing random patterns on it. I bring my head to the side of her face.

“Shh. No one has to know, not until you’re ready.”

I whisper into her ear in a low voice. I pull my head away to meet her face. I give her a small smile, and she attempts to give me one as well, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

Her arms being themselves around my back again, and she buries her neck into my neck.

It was soft, I’m not even sure if I heard correctly, or if I just imagined it.

“Thank you.” It was such a quiet whisper, but for some reason, it said so much. The emotions in her voice told me everything I needed to know.

She just laid her head on my shoulder, as I softly rub her back.

———————————————Flashback Ends——————————————-

We stayed in the room for the rest of the day. We didn’t bother to go to classes, they didn’t matter. We just held each other in the other’s arms. We never spoke a single word. Our silence spoke for us.

When the day finally ended, we went out and she took me home. No one in my family asked anything. I didn’t care. I remember laying on my bed, and staring at the ceiling the entire day. I cried throughout the day. I never understood why, I assume it has something to do with me actually telling someone my secret. But even weirder, that night, for the first time since it started, I didn’t dream of Ashley at all.

I still remember her warmth when I held her. I still remember my wet shoulder, soaked with her tears. I still remember her fragile figure, clutching tightly on to me. I remember loving the fact that I was the one she cried to.

I should have realized that it wouldn’t last. It was nice. It was good, too good. It was… what do you call it… the calm before the storm.

My head snaps up to the road, I see sirens blaring, and a road block. My eyes grow wide in shock as my mouth hangs open. I can see the ambulances in the distance, pulling up to the car that is to the side of the road.

I scream, but my voice fails me.

I get out of my car and start running towards the scene, pushing my way through passerbies, and ignoring the honking cars. But they don’t matter, they don’t exist right now. My breath hitches,, and I start to run faster, heart pumping, sweaty fists.

I finally find my voice, and take all the breathe I have in my body and put it in the one word I know. The one truth that exists to me.

“Ashley!!”

————————————–