He can’t hurt you anymore, he’s dead

Jake

The moment I felt Laura's hand grip my arm, my first instinct was to push her away. Not because I hated her or anything, I just didn't want her close, she already disrespected me enough and crossed her boundary today, I couldn't let her push against my wall further. That's what I always did. But when I glanced down and saw the way her fingers trembled, the way she clung to me like I was the only solid thing in the chaos of the storm, I hesitated. Her face, pale and tense, told me everything. She was scared. Really scared.

I couldn't push her away when she obviously needed me.