Free Beautifully Broken by Shayne Donovan Page A

today and I was definitely feeling it. I quickly pulled some of the parts from my truck and practically went on auto pilot. I fixed the breaks, the starter and replaced the oil and fuses by the time the sun started to set. Quickly I cleaned up just as a roll of thunder shook the garage. I loved Georgia rain storms. I found them so relaxing and after the day I had I needed to be relaxed.
                  “Hey.” Cole said from the door way. I nearly jumped at the sound of it, spinning quickly to face him. “I wasn’t sure you would have shown up today.” He sounded nervous and in a way insecure. The soft skin under his eyes was tinged purple and his cheeks looked a bit thinner, his skin slightly more pale. “Are you okay?” I asked feeling concerned. I was genuinely concerned and I realized at that moment that my wall was gone. There was only a thin sheen of plaster left on my skin because I cared. I truly cared if he was okay. Cole smiled a small apologetic smile. “I didn’t sleep well.” I nodded, knowing exactly how he felt because I had stayed up last night agonizing over every little detail of the previous night. “I’m sorry for how I acted the other night. I pushed you away when you only asked a simple question. I have my reasons Marley.” He whispered and I recalled Adam’s words from earlier that day. “You know you can trust me… you can share it with me.” I said sincerely. I really wanted him to open up, to tell me what his heavy load was, so that we could carry it together.
                  Cole stepped forward, coming closer until his chest was just barely touching mine and my heart fluttered like a tiny winged butterfly. He gently lifted my chin with his fingers bringing my lips close enough that I could feel his breath lightly tickling them. “Are you ready to tell me your secrets?” He said just barely above a whisper as his eyes searched my face. I could see them pleading with me, begging me to spill every secret I have, unload my burden so that he could help me carry it. I couldn’t, “I can’t…I’m not ready yet.” I whispered, not even trusting my own voice. He smiled and released my chin, gently pushing some hair from my face. “Then please understand when I say that I’m not ready to tell you mine either.” I could only nod as he leaned forward and gently pulled my face to him. His lips touched against my forehead feeling soft and cool. “So tonight. I know I said I would take you somewhere, but truthfully I’m exhausted and it’s supposed to rain. Rain check?” He asked kindly, I nodded “Yes that’s fine.” He smiled again and let his fingers trail down my face before he walked backwards out of the darkening garage, leaving me alone once again.  
                  Alone I felt the familiar prickle against my skin. Slowly I faced the window and gasped. Silhouetted in the window was a person. I blinked and the image was gone. “Just imagining it…” I whispered shakily as a trickle of cold sweat made its way down my spine. Quickly feeling tenser than I had before, I cleaned up and got into my car, locking the doors behind me as I looked around. I had been way t0o jumpy lately. I considered going to the liquor store but after sitting there for a few moments I knew I shouldn’t I just needed sleep. I drove home in silence and stumbled into the front door and directly into my bed.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
                  I knew I was dreaming but the terror I was feeling was all too real to me. I fought the strict confines of sleep, desperately fighting to wake up and out of this nightmare. Actually a memory is probably more accurate. I was struggling to contain my frantic heart beat as I hid behind the torn green velvet couch in our living room. The house reeked of stale beer, burnt food and cigars. I was trembling all over and my knees were dirty from crawling behind the couch. “Please wake up…please wake up”