I didn't know

I woke abruptly to a sharp pain on my left leg. It shot up straight into my arm. I groaned which wrenched my throat. I sat up too quickly and fell back down. A nurse rushed in and started patting my forehead.

"Oh hun, you have to stay down okay? You are moving way too fast. Calm down, calm down, it's ok." she said lowly in a comforting voice. Tom rushed in. Then it hit me. I'm in a hospital and I was.. wait... oh. I was sexually abused. Right. That's new. Tom sat down on the chair next to me.

"Thank you sir. Thank you for coming and getting me." I said. I wondered what could've happened if he hadn't arrived.

"Of course. You were taking your time and the shoot was over so I just came to see if I could help you find anything. I know how women can take their time shopping but.... What I mean to say is I wanted to help you out."

"Why am in hospital?"

"You had a mild concussion and maybe some internal bleeding that the very kind doctors cleared up as soon as possible."

I reached up to my head to feel it bandaged up. I slowly sat up and a mirror was placed at the foot of my bed. I stared at my reflection. A deep red stained the rough surface of the bandage. Tears pricked at my eyes but refused to fall. Tom held my other hand and said "Let it go". He had sensed me holding my emotions in.

I let myself free. Once the tears cascaded down my face, they didn't stop at all. They kept on going. The salty tears stung my cheeks and a few cuts at my jaw. I cried out in the pain. I never felt so safe. So safe, next to Tom.

Then I realised that Tom was my safezone at the moment. He made me feel safe. I turned my body to look into Tom's eyes to find pity brimming in them. I felt my ribs ache like an old rusted machine starting up again after being buried in ice.

I leant over of hugged him. He hugged back but was conscious of my injuries. The back of his shirt was soaked my tears( and maybe some snot but lets not go there) by the time I let go. I placed my forehead on his- feeling way closer to him.

I let my hand caress his cheek and trace the bruise on his cheekbone. A single tear fell from his eye, which damped my fingertip.I breathed heavily before saying something directly from my heart for the first time in a long time.

"Thank you" I whispered. I have never felt so intimate before. He stared right back at me. Into my eyes. I stared back into his eyes. His hand came up to my face and caressed my cheek to. My hand stayed at his cheek- not daring to remove it because it might have broken this beautiful moment.

His four fingers reached the nape of my neck whilst his thumb stayed as close to my cheek as possible. He leaned in slowly and closed his eyes slowly. His lips reached mine and pressed gently against them. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips on his a little more. He was thoughtful of the little cut on my lip. He parted his lips and ever so gently deepened the kiss.

It felt like fireworks. This felt right right. I didn't know. I didn't know how much I needed this. How much I missed this. He took his lips off me and whispered "Is this ok?" He looked into my eyes trying to find an answer.

I kissed back immediately and smiled into the most beautiful kiss.

I let go and sighed but still kept my forehead against his. I wanted to kiss him again but the nurse came in and cleared her throat.

"Since you are awake and seem ok enough, we would like to ask you a few questions now if that's alright hun." The nurse looked straight at me and then looked at Tom. I looked at Tom too wondering why she was looking at him. Tom got up and left the room, looking back at me for a moment before exiting. The nurse sat down where Tom was sitting a few seconds ago.