Free Broken & Damaged Love by T.L. Clark Page A

hole.
    A pair of smart sneakers fell into step next to her. She stopped. She looked up.
    She stared into a hazel glare that was all at once concerned and confused. Frank’s shaggy brown mane looked dishevelled.
    “I’m so sorry. I had to make sure you’re OK. Are you? OK, I mean,” Frank rambled nervously.
    Tina nodded, her lips tightly sucked in, so you couldn’t see the pink at all.
    “I get carried away sometimes. Your picture is really good though, you know,” he continued.
    “No. I don’t know. It’s bad. Very bad. Please just leave me alone,” she replied, ashamed of her outburst, and embarrassed at how much he’d seen.
    She started to walk off but a soft hand was immediately on her elbow, tugging her to halt. Not aggressively, just the gentlest touch that invited rather than commanded her compliance. It made her feel better, and Tina did indeed slow to a halt.
    “You have soft hands,” she exclaimed.
    It was a foolish observation at a time like this, but it’s what struck her most in the moment.
    “Yeah, well, I use mild green Fairy Liquid ,” he sang to the tune of the washing up liquid jingle, smiling and holding his hands in front of him.
    Tina found herself giggling again. Frank really was quite funny and came out with the most surprising things at random moments.
    “So you’re OK, yeah?” he checked.
    “Yeah. Thanks. Look, I’d better get to class, but I’ll see you later, OK?”
    He agreed and they went their separate ways. Frank’s teacher didn’t even notice his late entrance to class. Tina’s did though.
    “Is everything OK?” was asked with genuine care, but made Tina feel even more awkward.
    She blushed a deep crimson as she nodded and took her seat.
    She bit her lip, but then let a broad smile take place as she thought of Frank’s advert impression.
    He was a good person to know, she decided. He made her feel better about herself, and she felt she could trust him. And he clearly cared; he’d waited all that time for her to emerge from her meltdown.
    Time wore on, and their friendship continued to grow. Yet still Tina questioned it.
    Tina struggled to concentrate in class. She was thinking of a pair of hazel eyes, radiating kindness. She had come to trust Frank in such a short space of time it was alarming.
    History had shown her not to trust anyone, and she’d come to rely on herself. Why was she letting him so close?
    He’d seen a hidden depth to her picture she’d not realised was there herself. It scared her and comforted her all at once.
    She felt she ought to explain more, not knowing just how much of her he’d actually pieced together. She needed him to know the truth.
    It was suddenly important to her. But at the same time she didn’t know if she could bring herself to say the words. How would she even start a conversation like that? Her stomach tied itself into knots, and her head hurt as all the contradictions hit against each other. 
    She had held so much inside for so long, it was just bursting to come out. Her instincts told her to trust kind, gentle Frank.
    He’d shown concern for her, which was more than a lot of people had done recently. Yes, she could tell him her story. Couldn’t she? What if he did run away? She’d be all alone again, and she’d already started to grow a relationship with him.
    She instinctively felt a deep connection to him and she was afraid of losing it. It was becoming a lifeline.
    But what if she didn’t tell him? She felt as if she’d be lying. How much had he learned from her picture? The words he’d started to say…it was like he’d looked straight into her soul. And if he had guessed then what was the harm of filling in the blanks?
    She’d deliberately kept their conversations light since that day. She had avoided her dark place at all costs. She had felt herself being pulled away from the darkness by Frank. She wouldn’t let herself go back. Did talking about her past mean that’s what she’d be doing? Would it