Page 31 of Falling For Us Again

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.”

“You’re persistent.”

“Yes.”

When we arrived at my house, Jenna’s eyebrows shot up at the sight of the grandeur. The house stood tall and impressive, its manicured lawns and elegant structure a stark contrast to her world.

“So, you’re the rich kid. I heard a wealthy family moved to town a few months ago. No wonder you looked so sheltered and spoiled.” She looks at me as if seeing me for the first time.

“Ouch. Well, I’m privileged, alright. I don’t know about spoiled though,” I said, trying to keep the tone light.

Jenna shook her head, a bemused expression on her face. “It must be nice, living in a place like this.”

“It has its perks,” I admitted, “but it also has its downsides.”

“Like what?”

“Like people assuming things about you,” I said pointedly.

She laughed softly. “Fair enough.”

I led her to the living room and retrieved the first aid kit. Jenna glanced around, taking in the surroundings with a mixture of awe and wariness.

“You’ll need to roll up your sleeves so I can see,” I said gently.

She hesitated, her eyes falling to her sleeves for a moment, but finally, she removed her shirt, leaving her in a tank top. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of her arms. Several bruises marred her skin, telling a story of ongoing abuse.

My eyes widened in shock. It’s incomprehensible to me that a father could inflict such brutality on his daughter.

“Jenna…” I whispered; my voice choked with emotion.

“Ugly sight, isn’t it?” She said with a forced grin.

I took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently. “Have you reported this to anyone?”

She shrugged; her expression resigned. “No one cares after my father apologizes. He used to be really sweet, so they just assume it’s my fault.”

I clenched my fist so tightly that I feared a vein might burst. Desperate to regain control of my emotions, I walked to the kitchen and poured her a glass of juice, taking a moment to steady myself.

Returning to the living room, I handed it to her and offered a reassuring smile. “Alright, let’s get you cleaned up,” I said, my tone warm and supportive.

I opened the first aid kit and began gathering the necessary supplies. “This might sting a bit,” I warned as I reached for the antiseptic.

She nodded, bracing herself. I worked carefully, rubbing the salve with as much gentleness as I could muster.

“You’re really good at this.”

“I’ve had practice,” I replied. “Mostly with my older sister, Victoria. She was always getting into scrapes. Now, she's following our parents’ path and studying to be a medical doctor. A very fitting trajectory for her actually.”

Jenna smiled slightly. “That’s nice. I guess it’s good to have someone who knows what they’re doing.”

“Definitely,” I agreed. “And now you’ve got me.”

She looked at me, her eyes softer than before. “Thanks, Dylan. Maybe having a friend wouldn’t be so bad.”

“See? I’m already changing your mind.”

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