Page 103 of Make Her Bleed
No matterhow mad I am at him, a smile rises across my face. It's not enough for me to forgive what happened last night or undo the damage, but it's the thought that counts.
I told him just to forget my birthday like he originally did, but he must've gone out while I was sleeping and bought me a few birthday presents.
At least I can listen to music. God, I've missed having something to fill the silence.
I flip on the radio and dance like nobody's watching, swinging my hips, as I brush my teeth. The music raises my spirits until I switch it off. Then, I'm reminded that Kai got me the radio. Why the fuck did he have to do everything he did last night? It was all so meticulous, like his only goal ever was to cause the most damage to me.
Does he hate me that much?
It sounds like a decent plan to break me. Rape me, torture me, then claim to want me, rape me again, make it so no one else can touch, spend the day making me feel special, leave me with the guys he doesn't want to touch me, get my best friend drunk, fuck her, and rub everything about it in my face. Yup, sounds like a master plan for breaking me in every way possible.
I leave the bathroom and head downstairs. The living room looks the same, no other red bows.
That's Kai's thing. No wrapping paper. Just a big red bow. Apparently, I was the only one he did that for.
Most kids like unwrapping a present, tearing through the paper and watching it flitter to the floor.
Not me. I liked the bows. I decorated my room with the bows to remind myself on bad days how loved I was.
I step into the living room, looking for the slightest clue.
A twinkle of red catches my eye and my gaze snaps to the wall under the staircase. A red iridescent arrow stuck to the wall points down the hall.
Suspicion flares in my stomach. Is this a trick?
I quickly check out the window and sure enough, Kai isn't here. His car is gone.
I follow the arrow to find another and another until I find a bow on the floor in front of a blue door. Grabbing the bow, I find another note attached to it.
Aria,
Open the door. Welcome to your safe space.
-Kai
P.S. Once you're finished acquainting yourself with your safe space, go to the kitchen.
My safe space?What does that even mean?
I grab the doorknob and push it open, a gasp leaving my lips.
The room isn't massive like mine or Kai's bedroom, but it has a mass of free space. There's a bench up against the window like in my room at my dad's house surrounded by bookcases, a desk against the furthest wall with a computer and a lamp, a daybed with a canopy, a TV, and a stack of journals on the floor beside the bed.
Is this a new bedroom for me? Is that what Kai meant by safe space?
There's no way Kai could've put all this together last night with how drunk he was. How long has this room been like this and why is he giving it to me?
I walk over to the daybed and see a big box in the middle. Hesitantly, I peel open the sides and see a bunch of red bows with a note on top.
Make it your own, princess.
My heart melts as tears spring to my eyes. He remembered my thing with the bows. Not only did he remember but he supplied me with bows to decorate with. It might seem silly to some people, but it's a part of my identity.
The girl with the bows.
Kai made that joke a long time ago.
I pick up the note and hold it to my chest, my lip trembling with joy. God, how is it that he can do this to me after everything he has put me through?
