Sweet Southern Haven

A Caged Bird

{Noelle’s POV}

I moved out of the way, and watched as Silas packed in the bags setting them on the kitchen counter. He began unpacking them, and I couldn’t help but blush when he unloaded the menstrual products. I snatched them up, running them upstairs and putting them away, before quickly making my way back down. Once back, I frantically began to look through the items that he was putting away. “W-Where’s the hair dye, and the scissors?” I asked.

“Sh**, I knew I forgot something.. were those important?” He asked, looking over me. I couldn’t help but notice the way that his eyes scanned over my hair, making their way down my body. I shuttered in response.. it had been a while since a man looked at me like that.

I nodded, my face feeling hot, as I caught my reflection I could see that my cheeks were red. “I-It.. it was.. I need them..” I said, feeling a little hot as his eyes scanned back up to my face.

When his icy eyes met mine, my breath hitched for a moment. Dam***, why did he have to be so attractive? In this moment, I wanted to do one of two things, run away and hide, or run into his arms and feel what his rough hands would feel like tracing the outline of my body. It has been so long since I had even wanted a man to touch me, and of course it just had to be him. He’s been a jerk ever since I got here. “It’d be a shame for you to cut and dye it..” he said, turning his back to me and putting away some groceries.

“W-What?” I asked, confused, it seemed as though he didn’t get them on purpose.

He kept his back turned to me, and kept putting things away. “Your hair, it’s pretty.” Was all he said before turning back towards me.

I knew I looked flustered as his eyes landed on me. My cheeks were hot, and as red as a tomato. I tried hard not to show how embarrassed I was, but of course my pale skin had to fail me now. “I-I..” I muttered.

His eyes widened, as he seemed to realize what he’d said. “Sorry.. I..” he stammered before looking over me again. He shook his head, before turning and walking out of the house. I was left standing there, watching as he walked away.

I ran after him trying to catch up, I flung open my front door looking at him as he was stepping off the porch. “I needed that hair dye, you don’t understand..” I shouted after him.

He turned looking at me, I had tears pricking in my eyes, I can’t talk about Parker, even thinking about the abuse I suffered.. the things he did to me, it made my body cringe. “Why? Why are you even here? You show up out of the blue, and don’t answer any of our questions, mom says you’re running from something, but I don’t buy it! You’re hiding something, and you better believe I’m going to find out what. I don’t want anyone that I don’t trust around my daughter, and for some reason she’s formed an attachment to you! I’ve tried to be nice, and I’ve tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but so far, I don’t trust a word you say!” He snapped, walking towards me.

I flinched, backing away, pulling my hands up over my head to keep my head safe. When Parker got angry like this.. he’d always go for the worst possible place, to make sure that I couldn’t run from him. My face had been busted up more times than I could count. When no blow came I pulled my arms away, looking up at him. He was in front of me, staring me down, with a sadness, and anger in his eyes. “I-I wouldn’t..” he muttered. “Is that.. is that what you’re running from?” He asked, hurt evident in his voice.

I backed away slamming the door closed and locking it. I could see him on the porch, still watching me through the glass. I turned, running up to my room, also closing and locking that door before sliding down the side of it. I dropped, pulling my knees to my chest and letting out the pain that I had been holding on to. I hated that he saw me like that, that anyone saw me that way. I hated that he noticed me flinching, and hiding, cowering behind my arms.

I cried, turning and punching the door over and over again until my knuckles were torn open, bleeding, and raw. I screamed, as my fists collided with the door. How did I let this happen to me, how the hell did I allow him to make me into this sniveling, scared, shell of a woman. I gave Parker all the love I had, all of my affection, attention, everything I could give him, I gave. It’s all I fu***** did was give! All he did was take.. he took my pride, he took my joy, and he took my life.

I fell back on to my a** on the hardwood floor, letting out a whimper, staring down at my bloodied hands. “Da**! I muttered under my breath, pushing myself up, and standing, making my way to the bathroom. I washed my hands, before grabbing the first aid kit. I sterilized my knuckles, and wrapped them with gauze and bandages. I decided to go get into the bed, I crawled in, wrapping myself in blankets and trying hard to calm myself down. I no longer wanted to deal with this, I didn’t want to think about it. I want nothing more than to just go to sleep, and hope that this was all just a bad dream. I wanted to forget the way that he looked at me, like I am a caged bird with a broken wing.