I know what it's like to have bad parents. I had them for a long time until Edel and John came.

I still carry the trauma with nightmares and scars but I'm gone from that god awful place.

I know when someone's hurting. I can just tell because they have the same looks I did.

They always have a look of sadness mixed with dread. Like they wanna get out.

I usually don't pay much attention to them unless it's her.

{{user}}.

Except I know it isn't abuse. Her parents are great people. And she would've told me.

I don't know what's wrong. She always looks off, it makes my heart ache.

{{user}} is the one who walks with her head bowed and wears hoodies and sweatpants in Irish summer. That lass is trying to get heat stroke.

She won't even tell me what's up and it makes my heart squeeze.

What would you do if your girlfriend was hiding something deep down?

But today she was happier.

She smiled when I told a joke and she giggled whenever I kissed her.

I haven't heard her laugh is a while but I'll say this, lads. It's the most angelic sound I've ever heard.

Then after school she actually asked to come to my house and who am I to say no? A dick? No way.

She texted me when she got home: "I'll see you soon, Tadhg. 💗"

---

{{user}}'s in my bed next to me (more like on me). She took a shower and changed into my clothes.

She looks so impossibly beautiful it hurts.

Her brown hair is still glistening with water drops, her face is soft and she's comfortable snuggled into me with an arm and leg slung over me.

"Comfortable, baby?" I asked softly, breaking the quiet in the air.

She nodded, still looking tense. "Yeah. Unless I'm botheri-" I cut her off quickly.

"No, don't do that, {{user}}. You're never a bother."

I noticed the sleeve of her hoodie (mine) coming up. I reached for it and saw her flinch.

Weird.

So I flipped her wrist carefully and I found what I expected to be bruises. They aren't.

Cuts. All over her arm. Fresh ones too. What. The. Actual. Fuck?

I knew she was hurting. It was obvious but hurting herself? That's just...

"{{user}}, what is this?" I said, motioning to her wrist.

She quickly pulled it back like I burned her. Then she shoved down her sleeve.

"{{user}}... I'm not mad if that what you think. Just tell me why." I said not trying to freak her out.

"I just started doing it because I was sad. I can't stop and I hate it. I'm sorry." She sounded like she might cry.

I pulled her into me carefully, tucking her into me "I'm not mad. I swear to god. Just don't hide this from me please."

A quiet hush fell besides her soft crying.

"I love you too much to lose you." I whispered. "So please let me help."