Page 31 of Red Obsession

Opening the shower door, I step inside, the hot water hits me soaking through my clothing, burning me.

“Oh, Red.” My voice cracks. Reaching over I turn the temperature down. There is no way it isn’t burning her. “Come on, let’s get you out.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my eyes. There’s nothing wrong, nothingwrong.” Izel sobs, her breathing coming in ragged. “Zion, there’s nothing wrong with my eyes. There’s nothing wrong with them.”

“Red, there is nothing wrong with your eyes. I promise you there’s nothing wrong with them.”

I was never good at comforting others. Ma tried teaching me; I just wasn’t wired that way. But for Izel, I can try and comfort her. I’m just not sure what she needs.

“It wasn’t my fault,” she flatly says. Finally looking up at me, her once green eyes are now red, and more tears stream down her face. “None of it is my fault. I was a child.”

My body stiffens as her words,sitting down, I fight with wanting to pull her into my lap. She tugs her legs closer to her chest, hiding herself from me. I force myself to close my eyes, not allowing myself to look at her naked body. She doesn’t need that from me, not when she’s crying because she thinks there’s something wrong with her eyes.

“What happened, Red?” I ask, opening my eyes again, only to stare at the shower wall.

Izel doesn’t say anything for a long time. I thought she might have fallen asleep, or she is just ignoring me. I deserve it since I was a complete asshole to her downstairs.

“Monochromacy,” she mumbles. “I’m color blind.”

“That’s oka–”

“All I see is black and white, that’s what it means. And, well, sometimes, I don’t see…”

“What do you mean sometimes?” I ask, furrowing my brows.

“Sometimes I don’t see at all, or sometimes I see very little. Just depends.” She shrugs, sighing, finally glancing in my direction. “When I was a child, I was sort of forced out a window.”

“Who?” I ask, feeling powerless. Something I’m not used to feeling. I have to have control, in every way possible. “I want a list of everyone that hurt you,” I tell her.

That earns a chuckle from her. “That’s a long list.”

“I want it,” I tell her again. I don’t care how long it is, I want the fucking list.

“Like a list of everyone, everyone?” Izel shifts, and my eyes drop down catching sight of scars covering her legs. Redness fills my vison, and my knuckles crack from the force of my fist. “There was a boy who pushed me off a slide when I was in first grade.” She looks over at me, her chin resting on her knees.

“Yes, what’s his name?”

“You’re crazy.” Izel smiles.

“But you already knew that, Red.”

“I did. Are you ever going to take your mask off?”

I think about it. I probably should take my mask off now, but I'm afraid that she won't like what I look like. Which is outrageous because I shouldn't be. I have no reason to be.

“I will, eventually,” I finally mumble. “But first I think you should get out of this shower and get some rest.”

“You’re right.” Izel sighs. Her eyes drop down before flying back to me. “I’m naked.” As if she just realizes where we are. Her eyes gaze down at her body again just to look at me shyly. “Wow, I’m really out here in all my glory.”

“I don’t mind.”

What the actual fuck.

I don’t even know why I decided it would be a good idea to say that out loud. But it seems like nothing is off limits with this girl.

“Well, this was nice, but I think I’m going to finish showering so I can go to bed.” Izel moves her arm waving at me to move. The top of her breast peeks out, and my eyes are glued. I always claim I am an ass man. Sure, tits are nice. Love them, but there is something about a good round ass. But Izel’s tits, I want to suck her nipples into my mouth.

Literally.

---