untitled. short. story.

Words are just Words she said,
Words are just words.
Sticks and Stones he said,
sticks and stones.
Then why is it every inch hurts she said,
every single inch.
He stared.
She stared.
He cared.
She didn’t.
I hurt .
I know.
A lot.
I know.
How can you?
I just do.
She looked away.
He took a breath.
Help me she thought.
Help me he saw.
I could he said.
What she said?
I could.
She looked hard.
I could, help.
No she said and she let the tears come.
I could he said again, I know I could.
I don’t know she said, I just don’t know.
I do. I know one thing.
Only one she tried to joke but the words were muffled.
One thing he said again, so serious,
she had to turn away.
He took another breath,
one thing, I know, he said, is that I love you.
She turned so sharply she almost fell off the bed.
He exhaled and said I. Love. You.
And that’s the only thing I know. That’s the only thing I’m sure of. That’s the only thing that’s clear, that’s ever been clear for me.
She cried.
He watched.
She continued.
He moved closer.
I can’t take it he said.
Take what she said?
Seeing you in so much pain.
She cried harder.
I love you he said again.
She reached out her hand,
he took it in his, I can help you.
How?
Because I know what its like to feel unloved, to feel rejected, to feel like every inch hurts.
Words she said, Words there just words.
Words he said are just words unless you mean them.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
Please she said, I need to know, your words, do you mean them?
Yes he said, with every inch of me, I mean them.
She shivered. Words she said.
Words he said.
And then he took her in his arms
And held her as close as he could.
She stopped crying.
He held her tighter.
She rested her head on his chest,
I love you he said.
I know she said.
I need you he said.
No she said, no. But you can have me.
He took his hand and turned her head to face him.
I will, he said, make every inch of you stop hurting.
Promise?
Promise.
He kissed her ever so softly,
They pulled away.
I’ll give them a chance.
Who a chance he said?
Words she said.
I’ll give them a second chance, because your words don’t hurt.
He kissed her tear-stained cheek, I love you.
I love you she said.